Google bans Zoom from its work computers

Google on Wednesday banned the use of video conferencing service Zoom on employee computers, citing concerns around security vulnerabilities.

Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda told The Hill, after first telling BuzzFeed News, that the policy was limited to corporate computers, and was part of Google’s long-standing policy of not allowing the use of “unapproved apps for work.”

“Recently, our security team informed employees using Zoom Desktop Client that it will no longer run on corporate computers as it does not meet our security standards for apps used by our employees,” Castaneda said. “Employees who have been using Zoom to stay in touch with family and friends can continue to do so through a web browser or via mobile.”

Google is the latest in a line of companies and government agencies to ban use of Zoom following two weeks of security and privacy concerns coming to light about the company.

Reuters reported last week that both SpaceX and NASA had banned the use of Zoom due to privacy concerns.

The move by Google came the same day that the German Federal Foreign Office restricted employees from using Zoom on government devices.

“According to media reports and according to our own knowledge, the software from Zoom has critical weaknesses and continues to have significant security and data protection problems,” the Foreign Office wrote in a memo to employees which was made available to German publication Handelsblatt.

Taiwan’s Cabinet ordered government agencies on Tuesday to stop using the Zoom conferencing app, also pointing to concerns over security risks.

The video conferencing company Zoom is facing a class-action lawsuit filed Tuesday with accusations that the app overstated its privacy policies and has failed to meet security standards.

Shareholder Michael Drieu filed the suit after multiple news reports highlighted privacy issues within Zoom’s application, according to Reuters.

The company’s stock, which had risen tremendously at the beginning of the year, has fallen and lost nearly a third of its market value since late March when reports of flawed security became more prevalent in the media.

Zoom CEO Eric Yuan apologized last week to users and said the company would take steps to fix privacy and security issues, saying the company had fallen short on its duty.