6 ms·

Maybe I've been sensitised by all the security flaws, privacy leaks and outright lies on Zoom's part, but I'm starting to really notice how much a lot of public

Maybe I've been sensitised by all the security flaws, privacy leaks and outright lies on Zoom's part, but I'm starting to really notice how much a lot of public figures are pushing Zoom. Does anyone else find it really weird? Late-night TV hosts, I can understand - maybe they just get paid for it, or have Zoom shares. But for example UK government leaders repeatedly mentioning it by name, e.g. Matt Hancock saying that despite being unwell, Boris Johnson is still having "Zoom videoconferences", or saying Johnson addressed his "Zoom cabinet", just feels... weird. Edited to add: thinking about it more, I remember "FaceTime" being used pretty similarly when it was new. So I guess all the bad news is just sensitising me.

kossTKR 7y ago
It is curious, and post revelations in the recent decade nothing is too weird to suspect - but don't underestimate the immense social value of jumping on the technological bandwagon and the free "hip" PR that it produces in media. And when more people do it, more people do it, i.e the bandwagon effect. People then look at the articles written in the media and say "hey i use that app too, cool, we are part of the same tribe". Showing of knowledge of the tech-zeitgeist is an easy way for a politician or anyone for that matter to appear being both with the times", "tech-savvy" and just the same as regular folk.
viraptor 7y ago
Zoom is popular. Enough that it's both the default for many people and the tech that gets brought up in discussions. My dance school uses zoom. My work uses zoom. Online courses use zoom. Maybe it's more noticeable when famous people mention it, but really - it's a default now. Even if there was some shady push for it, it's also organically massively popular.
- fock 7y ago
  trying to download the (self-installing) app twice _every_ time, whilst you're (actively) trying to join a meeting in your browser is the kind of organic popularity the yahoo toolbar had...
  - chatmasta 7y ago
    Most people install the app and leave it installed.
    - fock 7y ago
      you don't say. That way (and autostarting and nagging) you easily get a lot of popularity compared to a web-service (with most people being unaware of bookmarking features in their browser). That was the operating principle of a lot of crappy ad/malware companies back then this was still considered an ethical businessmodel. Seems we are seeing time repeat itself.
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
bryanrasmussen 7y ago
well another thing is that zoom is a great name, on a marketing level. It implies speed, and thus implies power. Since you zoom in on things to see them better it implies attention to detail. The productivity of the prime minister is in no way hampered, people, he Zooms!
- dvfjsdhgfv 7y ago
  > It implies speed on far too many lenses I've owned it's simply not true
  - bryanrasmussen 7y ago
    https://cdn3.vectorstock.com/i/1000x1000/55/37/comic-book-zoom-vector-195537.jpg https://cdn3.vectorstock.com/i/1000x1000/55/37/comic-book-zo...
tzm 7y ago
It's becoming a verb (vs brand) which reflects rising popularity and use.
MobileVet 7y ago
Zoom is now ‘Kleenex’ or ‘Coke’ for video conferencing. Skype was the same when it came out... but they had far less competition at the time. This is a huge win for Zoom on a marketing front.
- kerng 7y ago
  Yep, showing up to uninvited random meetings by guessing IDs is now called Zoombombing apparently
complex1314 7y ago
Maybe they tried Skype first, which works horrible (tried twice, never managed connect all the participants at the same time), and finally relief over something that actually works. I have used Zoom successfully with 70 participants, and then breakout groups. The only alternative I can see that recently came to my attention is Jitsi Meet (https://jitsi.org/ https://jitsi.org/), which I will try next time I have the opportunity. But seems like it has at least one of the same weaknesses as zoom, with no end to end encryption (https://www.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/7syt0s/jitsi_meet_is_not_e2ee/ https://www.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/7syt0s/jitsi_meet_...)
- _-___________-_ 7y ago
  As far as I can find out, FaceTime is currently the only solution for "just works" (in the sense that your grandma could use it) videoconferencing that is e2e encrypted.
  - notechback 7y ago
    But it only works if everyone has Apple devices, so it absolutely does not "just work" if even one family member doesn't have it. Most video chat apps are straightforward once set up on the phone.
    - _-___________-_ 7y ago
      Are you aware of other video chat apps that support e2e-encrypted multi-party videoconference?
      - zeveb 7y ago
        If there are no cross-platform apps which support e2e-encrypted multi-party videoconferences, then there simply is currently no solution at all for 'just works' secure videoconferencing, because part of just working is not requiring users to switch to a platform they otherwise would not.
- 1over137 7y ago
mrich 7y ago
Isn't it amazing how video conferencing gets reinvented time and time again?
fangorn 7y ago
There's a history[0] of UK gov pushing through Chinese tech, despite security concerns. Why stop now... [0] https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-51806704 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-51806704
- knolax 7y ago
  Software by an American Company[0] founded by a man who's been here since the 90s[1] is now "Chinese Tech"? Is everything from Paul Graham "British Tech"? Are Apple Products now "Chinese Tech" because of their keyservers in China[2]? [0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoom_Video_Communications https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoom_Video_Communications [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Yuan https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Yuan [2] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-apple-icloud-insight/apple-moves-to-store-icloud-keys-in-china-raising-human-rights-fears-idUSKCN1G8060 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-apple-icloud-insigh...
  - jaywalk 7y ago
    Zoom also has over 700 employees in China.
    - knolax 7y ago
      So does Apple.
      - jaywalk 7y ago
        At Apple Stores. Not developing their software.
        knolax 7y ago
        https://jobs.apple.com/en-us/search?location=china-CHNC&team=acoustic-technologies-HRDWR-ACT+analog-and-digital-design-HRDWR-ADD+architecture-HRDWR-ARCH+battery-engineering-HRDWR-BE+camera-technologies-HRDWR-CAM+display-technologies-HRDWR-DISP+engineering-project-management-HRDWR-EPM+environmental-technologies-HRDWR-ENVT+health-technology-HRDWR-HT+machine-learning-and-ai-HRDWR-MCHLN+mechanical-engineering-HRDWR-ME+process-engineering-HRDWR-PE+reliability-engineering-HRDWR-REL+sensor-technologies-HRDWR-SENT+silicon-technologies-HRDWR-SILT+system-design-and-test-engineering-HRDWR-SDE+wireless-hardware-HRDWR-WT+apps-and-frameworks-SFTWR-AF+cloud-and-infrastructure-SFTWR-CLD+core-operating-systems-SFTWR-COS+devops-and-site-reliability-SFTWR-DSR+engineering-project-management-SFTWR-EPM+information-systems-and-technology-SFTWR-ISTECH+machine-learning-and-ai-SFTWR-MCHLN+security-and-privacy-SFTWR-SEC+software-quality-automation-and-tools-SFTWR-SQAT+wireless-software-SFTWR-WSFT https://jobs.apple.com/en-us/search?location=china-CHNC&team... Look for yourself how many postings they have for software and hardware positions in China.

kossTKR 7y ago

It is curious, and post revelations in the recent decade nothing is too weird to suspect - but don't underestimate the immense social value of jumping on the technological bandwagon and the free "hip" PR that it produces in media. And when more people do it, more people do it, i.e the bandwagon effect. People then look at the articles written in the media and say "hey i use that app too, cool, we are part of the same tribe". Showing of knowledge of the tech-zeitgeist is an easy way for a politician or anyone for that matter to appear being both with the times", "tech-savvy" and just the same as regular folk.

viraptor 7y ago

Zoom is popular. Enough that it's both the default for many people and the tech that gets brought up in discussions. My dance school uses zoom. My work uses zoom. Online courses use zoom. Maybe it's more noticeable when famous people mention it, but really - it's a default now. Even if there was some shady push for it, it's also organically massively popular.

fock 7y ago
trying to download the (self-installing) app twice _every_ time, whilst you're (actively) trying to join a meeting in your browser is the kind of organic popularity the yahoo toolbar had...
- chatmasta 7y ago
  Most people install the app and leave it installed.
  - fock 7y ago
    you don't say. That way (and autostarting and nagging) you easily get a lot of popularity compared to a web-service (with most people being unaware of bookmarking features in their browser). That was the operating principle of a lot of crappy ad/malware companies back then this was still considered an ethical businessmodel. Seems we are seeing time repeat itself.

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

bryanrasmussen 7y ago

well another thing is that zoom is a great name, on a marketing level. It implies speed, and thus implies power. Since you zoom in on things to see them better it implies attention to detail. The productivity of the prime minister is in no way hampered, people, he Zooms!

dvfjsdhgfv 7y ago
> It implies speed on far too many lenses I've owned it's simply not true
- bryanrasmussen 7y ago
  https://cdn3.vectorstock.com/i/1000x1000/55/37/comic-book-zoom-vector-195537.jpg https://cdn3.vectorstock.com/i/1000x1000/55/37/comic-book-zo...

tzm 7y ago

It's becoming a verb (vs brand) which reflects rising popularity and use.

MobileVet 7y ago

Zoom is now ‘Kleenex’ or ‘Coke’ for video conferencing. Skype was the same when it came out... but they had far less competition at the time. This is a huge win for Zoom on a marketing front.

kerng 7y ago
Yep, showing up to uninvited random meetings by guessing IDs is now called Zoombombing apparently

complex1314 7y ago

Maybe they tried Skype first, which works horrible (tried twice, never managed connect all the participants at the same time), and finally relief over something that actually works. I have used Zoom successfully with 70 participants, and then breakout groups. The only alternative I can see that recently came to my attention is Jitsi Meet (https://jitsi.org/ https://jitsi.org/), which I will try next time I have the opportunity. But seems like it has at least one of the same weaknesses as zoom, with no end to end encryption (https://www.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/7syt0s/jitsi_meet_is_not_e2ee/ https://www.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/7syt0s/jitsi_meet_...)

_-___________-_ 7y ago
As far as I can find out, FaceTime is currently the only solution for "just works" (in the sense that your grandma could use it) videoconferencing that is e2e encrypted.
- notechback 7y ago
  But it only works if everyone has Apple devices, so it absolutely does not "just work" if even one family member doesn't have it. Most video chat apps are straightforward once set up on the phone.
  - _-___________-_ 7y ago
    Are you aware of other video chat apps that support e2e-encrypted multi-party videoconference?
    - zeveb 7y ago
      If there are no cross-platform apps which support e2e-encrypted multi-party videoconferences, then there simply is currently no solution at all for 'just works' secure videoconferencing, because part of just working is not requiring users to switch to a platform they otherwise would not.
1over137 7y ago

mrich 7y ago

Isn't it amazing how video conferencing gets reinvented time and time again?

fangorn 7y ago

There's a history[0] of UK gov pushing through Chinese tech, despite security concerns. Why stop now... [0] https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-51806704 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-51806704

knolax 7y ago
Software by an American Company[0] founded by a man who's been here since the 90s[1] is now "Chinese Tech"? Is everything from Paul Graham "British Tech"? Are Apple Products now "Chinese Tech" because of their keyservers in China[2]? [0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoom_Video_Communications https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoom_Video_Communications [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Yuan https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Yuan [2] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-apple-icloud-insight/apple-moves-to-store-icloud-keys-in-china-raising-human-rights-fears-idUSKCN1G8060 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-apple-icloud-insigh...
- jaywalk 7y ago
  Zoom also has over 700 employees in China.
  - knolax 7y ago
    So does Apple.
    - jaywalk 7y ago
      At Apple Stores. Not developing their software.
      - knolax 7y ago
        https://jobs.apple.com/en-us/search?location=china-CHNC&team=acoustic-technologies-HRDWR-ACT+analog-and-digital-design-HRDWR-ADD+architecture-HRDWR-ARCH+battery-engineering-HRDWR-BE+camera-technologies-HRDWR-CAM+display-technologies-HRDWR-DISP+engineering-project-management-HRDWR-EPM+environmental-technologies-HRDWR-ENVT+health-technology-HRDWR-HT+machine-learning-and-ai-HRDWR-MCHLN+mechanical-engineering-HRDWR-ME+process-engineering-HRDWR-PE+reliability-engineering-HRDWR-REL+sensor-technologies-HRDWR-SENT+silicon-technologies-HRDWR-SILT+system-design-and-test-engineering-HRDWR-SDE+wireless-hardware-HRDWR-WT+apps-and-frameworks-SFTWR-AF+cloud-and-infrastructure-SFTWR-CLD+core-operating-systems-SFTWR-COS+devops-and-site-reliability-SFTWR-DSR+engineering-project-management-SFTWR-EPM+information-systems-and-technology-SFTWR-ISTECH+machine-learning-and-ai-SFTWR-MCHLN+security-and-privacy-SFTWR-SEC+software-quality-automation-and-tools-SFTWR-SQAT+wireless-software-SFTWR-WSFT https://jobs.apple.com/en-us/search?location=china-CHNC&team... Look for yourself how many postings they have for software and hardware positions in China.