Zoom user privacy settled for $ 85 million on ‘Zoombombing’

August 1 (Reuters) – Zoom Video Communications Inc. (Of MO) Hackers paid $ 85 million to settle a lawsuit alleging infringement of users’ privacy rights by sharing personal data with Facebook, Google and LinkedIn, strengthen its security practices, and allow zoom meetings to be disrupted by the practice of zombombing.

The initial settlement, filed Saturday afternoon, requires the approval of U.S. District Judge Lucy Coe in San Jose, California.

In the proposed class activity subscribers are entitled to a 15% refund of their main subscriptions or $ 25, whichever is larger, others can receive up to $ 15.

Zoom agrees to security measures, including alerting users when hosting Zoom hosts or other participants use third-party applications, and providing specialized training to employees on privacy and data handling.

The San Jose-based company refused to make the mistake of agreeing to settle.

In a statement on Sunday, Zoom said: “The privacy and security of our users is a priority for Zoom, and we take seriously the trust that our users have placed in us.”

The settlement came on Saturday after Gov. 11, with plaintiffs to pursue some contract-based claims. read more

Despite raising about $ 1.3 billion in zoom meeting subscriptions from Zoom class members, attorneys’ attorneys called the $ 85 million settlement reasonable considering the risks of the case. They want up to $ 21.25 million in legal fees.

Zoombombing is when outsiders hijack zoom meetings, use pornography, use racist language, or post other obscene content.

Zoe said Zoom is “mostly” immune to zombing under Section 230 of the Federal Communications Discipline Act, which protects online sites from liability for user content.

Zoom’s customer base has increased sixfold as the COVID-19 epidemic has forced more people to work from home.

The company had 497,000 customers and more than 10 employees in April 2021, up from 81,900 in January 2020. It said user growth could slow or slow as more people get vaccinated and return to work or school in person. read more

Case Again: Zoom Video Communications Inc. Privacy Case, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 20-02155.

Jonathan Stampel Report in New York; Editing by Andrea Richie and Lisa Schumacher

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