Everything you need to know about Zoom’s end-to-end encryption debacle

While reporting ground breaking growth numbers during its earnings call, Zoom CEO, Eric Yuan, had made a statement that worried security and privacy advocates the world over. Yuan said that the company is looking to make end-to-end encryption (E2EE) a paid feature, and won’t allow access to it for free users. More importantly, Yuan said the company will do this “because we also want to work together with the FBI, with local law enforcement in case some people use Zoom for a bad purpose.”

“Basic security shouldn’t be a premium feature that’s only available to wealthy individuals and big corporations,” said Evan Greer, deputy director at digital rights advocacy group Fight for the Future, via a tweet. “I have been pleasantly surprised with Zoom’s quick and decisive responses to security criticism recently, but after a feedback call they hosted this morning about their end-to-end encryption plan I am back to being disappointed,” said Gennie Gebhart, Associate Director for Research at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).