The video conferencing service Zoom ends the data transfer to Facebook with an update. The company recommends an update to the new version.
At Zoom there is the possibility to register with Facebook. However, data was apparently also transmitted to Facebook from users who did not use this function. The data protection regulations at Zoom contained no indication that data will be passed on to Facebook. Instead of adding this note, the Facebook software development has been removed. The company only found out that user data had been passed on.
Data Transmission To Facebook Is Generally Not Uncommon
Other apps that have integrated Facebook’s software development kit also transmit information to the social media group. However, the app providers undertake to use the information to educate users about the collection of data for Facebook. In Zoom’s data protection guidelines, this clarification is in vain. It only mentions that information can be collected from the Facebook account when the user logs in to Facebook with Zoom. This also happens if the user does not log in with Facebook. The magazine interviewed a security researcher as part of the research. However, this raised concerns that there is currently no evidence that Zoom shares data with Facebook.
Right now, the secret data misuse is a shock for users. Because people are currently increasingly working from home to stop the spread of the corona virus. Many use popular video conferencing apps for meetings. The latter has therefore seen a significant increase in users in the past few weeks. It can therefore be assumed that the data abuse that has become known also affects many people. Zoom already made negative headlines last summer. A vulnerability of the video solution allowed potential attackers to activate the computer’s webcam undetected.
