Shiv Telegram Media: Unveiling Zooms AI Training Practices and Data Usage

Zoom Faces Backlash Over Updated Terms of Service

Zoom, the popular videoconferencing platform, has come under fire from users following a recent update to its terms of service. Concerns have been raised about the company’s updated policy, which allegedly allows Zoom to use users’ online doctor visits and virtual happy hours to train artificial intelligence (AI) models.

According to claims made by users, the updated terms of service require them to grant permission for AI to be trained on their data, including audio, facial recognition, and private conversations. What is particularly worrying for users is that there is no option to opt out of this data training.

In response to these concerns, Zoom released a blog post clarifying its position. The company stated that it will not use customer content to train AI models without explicit consent. They made changes to the terms to explicitly reflect this policy.

Privacy experts have acknowledged that Zoom’s updated terms now accurately reflect their stance on AI training. However, concerns remain about participants’ ability to opt out if the meeting host decides otherwise. This leaves users with limited control over how their data is used during virtual meetings.

It is important to note that the updated terms do allow Zoom to train AI models on other data, such as customer behavior, without seeking additional permission. The terms differentiate between “service generated data” and “customer content,” with the former being eligible for AI training without the need for additional consent.

Initially, Zoom’s March update contained open-ended language that raised suspicions about the company’s intentions regarding customer content. However, Zoom later added explicit language to the terms, explicitly stating that they will not use audio, video, or chat customer content for AI training without consent.

Despite these assurances, experts have expressed concerns about the practicality of opting out when AI features are enabled by the meeting host. While users may be prompted to leave the meeting or proceed with AI features, opting out may not be a realistic choice for all participants.

Furthermore, the ability to control how data is used may be limited if a meeting organizer or system administrator mandates the use of Zoom. Experts argue that the “just-in-time” consent mechanism employed by Zoom is not genuine consent and raises red flags about misleading claims made by the company.

Users are advised to carefully review and understand the updated terms of service to make an informed decision about their privacy and data usage when using Zoom for virtual meetings.