Zoom, a video communications platform, has agreed to pay an $ 85 million fine and improve its security practices. They are considered to have violated users ’privacy rights by sharing them to Facebook, Google and LinkedIn.
Zoom also allows hackers to perform Zoomboombing, which is a term that refers to outside harassment attacks by hijacking a conference by posting pornographic pictures or hate speech, even threats.
Zoom suggests a condition that customers be given a 15% refund for VIP customers or around USD 25 and other customers get USD 15.
Zoom’s preliminary settlement was approved by U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California.
Zoom has also agreed on security measures including warning users when hosts or other participants use third-party apps in meetings and will provide specific training to employees on privacy and data handling.
The San Joe -based company has denied any wrongdoing in agreeing a settlement.
"The privacy and security of our users is a top priority for Zoom, and we take our users' trust in us seriously." write a Zoom statement.
Although Zoom raised about $ 1.3 billion in Zoom Meetings subscriptions, plaintiffs' attorneys said the $ 85 million settlement was justified given the risk of litigation. They intend to raise funds of up to USD 21.25 million in legal fees.
Zoom’s customer base has increased sixfold since the COVID-19 outbreak forced more people to work from home.
The company had 497,000 customers with more than 10 employees in April 2021, up from 81,900 customers in January 2020. However, consumer growth is seen slowing or declining as more people get vaccinated and return to work or school on their own.
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