New York – As the world moves to working online to protect the health and safety of our communities and to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus, companies such as Zoom have become our new workplaces.
In an open letter to Zoom, Access Now urged the company to issue regular transparency reports, disclosing how the company responds to third-party requests for user data, as more people rely on their services.
“Zoom is exactly the type of company that needs to issue a transparency report,” said Isedua Oribhabor, Access Now U.S. Policy Analyst. “Zoom sees into our bedrooms, offices, and living rooms. They are the means through which we work, learn, and stay connected to our loved ones. They therefore have a duty to ensure that they respect our human rights as we try to maintain daily life in the midst of this public health crisis.”
“The growing demand for Zoom’s services makes it a target for third parties, from law enforcement to malicious hackers, seeking personal data and sensitive information,” said Peter Micek, Access Now’s General Counsel. “This is why just disclosing privacy policies is not enough — it’s high time for Zoom to tell us how they protect our personal lives and professional activities from exploitation. This starts with a regular transparency report.”
Follow our work on the protection of digital rights in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.