Zoom’s End-to-End Encryption to be Available to Only Paying Customers

Zoom is working on end-to-end encryption to protect privacy on its increasingly popular video chat service, but the company will make it a premium feature not available to free accounts.

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Zoom has become a household name. Whether it’s used for business meetings, virtual happy hours, or social distancing workout classes, Zoom’s videoconferencing platform is booming. Unfortunately, the company has been plagued with privacy concerns throughout its meteoric rise.

As part of an effort to correct those mistakes, Zoom pledged to enter a 90-day period of focusing on its security. It already rolled out a security-heavy update in the middle of April. Now, it’s taking things a step further.

Recently, a Zoom security consultant confirmed to Reuters that the platform is working on end-to-end encryption. Sadly for casual users, it appears that the feature will only be accessible to premium subscribers.

Alex Stamos, a Zoom security consultant and former chief security officer for Yahoo, told Reuters the company could include exceptions like nonprofits or political dissidents, though.

The company is trying to improve security as well as “significantly upgrading their trust and safety,” Stamos said. “The current plan is paid customers plus enterprise accounts where the company knows who they are.”

Zoom has seen global usage of its service surge during coronavirus shutdowns, but has come under increasing pressure over vulnerabilities in the app’s software encryption. The company has been sued amid accusations it hid flaws in its app, and has seen cases of online trolls sneak in and disrupt web meetings with profanity and pornography.