Zoom launches E2E encrypted beta

Video conferencing platform Zoom announced Wednesday that it would offer a beta version of end-to-end encryption for both free and paying users beginning in July.

Zoom previously had contemplated only offering such encryption to paying customers and not those using its free video conferencing tool. While the company boosted encryption for all users in April following widespread security and privacy concerns, it initially was not certain if it would roll out the much stronger encryption for nonpaying customers.

Beginning in July, hosts of Zoom meetings will be able to toggle the encryption service on and off since it limits some users from joining meetings, and account administrators will be able to enable or disable the enhanced security program at the account and group level.

Zoom CEO Eric Yuan announced the news in a blog post on Wednesday, writing that the encryption program would “balance the legitimate right of all users to privacy and the safety of users on our platform.”

Yuan wrote that Zoom had consulted with government representatives, civil liberties groups and child safety advocates, among others, in putting together and rolling out the encryption program.

“This will enable us to offer E2EE [end-to-end encryption] as an advanced add-on feature for all of our users around the globe — free and paid — while maintaining the ability to prevent and fight abuse on our platform,” Yuan added.

The company posted its encryption program on GitHub in May in order to solicit feedback from customers, cryptographers, nonprofits and other groups. Zoom posted an updated version of the encryption program on GitHub on Wednesday.

The focus on enhancing encryption came after Zoom began facing a wave of security and privacy concerns in March as a huge influx of individuals began using the video conferencing tool for everything from work meetings to classes to happy hours during COVID-19 shutdowns.