5 ms·

Show HN: Beesy – Record Google Meets for free, download locally

58 points by piyu_sh 4y ago

Happy New Year everyone! Me and my friend developed this extension to record google meets to the computer directly, there is no cloud dependency, neither do we require any signups, and its free. We hacked this together in a very small amount of time to check if people would actually use it, so if you find this useful, please let us know so we can improve it. Also, if you have any feedback/questions/ideas, please do not hesitate and leave a comment.

jadbox 4y ago
This is super helpful (although it bypasses needing to pay for a premium gsuite plan). How does it work?
- piyu_sh 4y ago
  It uses screen recording apis provided by chrome itself. Also there are many such chrome extensions that record google meets but all of them are either paid or free with some limitations, so we're not the only ones bypassing premium gsuite.
arkadiyt 4y ago
Looks neat. Just a reminder for folks that some states (like California) are Two Party Consent states, meaning it is a crime to record the call unless all parties consent to it.
- piyu_sh 4y ago
  Can we solve this by putting a disclaimer in extension home page that it is upto the user to inform all parties and take their consent before recording ? Not really sure how to solve this, would love feedback.
  - er4hn 4y ago
    You can invent a very elaborate system of pushing a request to the meet chat, having everyone consent to recording, parsing their responses, and offering feedback and help if it doesn't go as expected.. Or you can just put a disclaimer in your extension that some states require two party consent and remind the user to comply with local laws. Fwiw, I'm on a lot of zoom calls with outside companies that have a "note taker" that is clearly a bot that records video and maybe does transcription. Most of the time it is not mentioned.
  - prmoustache 4y ago
    Why would you need their consent? I record all my pro teams meeting with OBS in order to be able to watch a part of it in case my attention has been drifting away. It is perfectly legal. I would totally need their consent if I had any plan to make those videos available to anyone else but that is another subject (diffusion).
    - sib301 4y ago
      Because in some states consent is required before recording a conversation. Regardless of what you plan to use the recording for.
      - prmoustache 4y ago
        Ok that is just not the law in my country. I think it is outside the scope of the software to define what one should or shouldn't do depending of every state/country juridiction.
    - encryptluks2 4y ago
      That is not how the law works. It is illegal to record them period.
      - prmoustache 4y ago
        See reply to comment abovr. Juridictions varies depending on location, I don't think a software developer has to make sure its usage complies with every juridictions, it is up to the users to do that.
        encryptluks2 4y ago
        Yes, it is up to the user but I was replying to someone that said they record them still and just don't share them. I was stating that is still illegal under the law.
        nickcox 4y ago
  - jollofricepeas 4y ago
    A disclaimer should work just fine as it’s the users responsibility to adhere to terms in their state/country. Add it to your “terms of use” as well. If you decide to turn it into a business, be sure to consult with an attorney (ie. 30mins).
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- hgsgm 4y ago
  It's also illegal to record the expression of consent to start recording!
Raed667 4y ago
How likely is google to break this if it gets popular? They could easily override `chrome.tabCapture.capture` or some other function that you depend on once the Meet page is loaded.
- piyu_sh 4y ago
  Yeah can totally happen, and we'll be pretty sad but this started as a fun project so it'd be pretty cool that google changes their api because of us. Also I'll be doing some research on similar extensions on why they are not banned.
- bubblethink 4y ago
  There's always widevine.
citilife 4y ago
Are you using the local storage of the browser, then letting the user download from there? Otherwise it would still be loading up to some cloud. Personally, I use: https://www.read.ai/ https://www.read.ai/ Records the meetings, provides searchable transcripts, meeting summaries work pretty well, interactions, etc. The key difference is it joins as a bot, so I don't have to think about it. However, it does require the files are stored in the cloud (although, I read.ai has an option to just track talk time, mute, etc; which doesn't record the meeting). Not using any cloud would be a plus in my book.
- piyu_sh 4y ago
  It uses browser blob storage to store the recording. We also plan to add these searchable transcript, summaries and other features but depends on if this stays up :)
crazygringo 4y ago
I'm genuinely curious of Google will allow this to stay up, seeing as saving Meet recordings is a feature that belongs to the paid tier of Meet (Workspace). Not that they'd probably justify a takedown with that, but more that it could be used to record meeting participants without their consent. Which is actually a big deal -- all videoconferencing software I'm aware of puts up a big notice and indicator that you are being recorded, and this is for both legal and privacy reasons. While obviously you could always use any screen recording software (like OBS or even just QuickTime) to secretly record a video meeting... I'm not sure that a tool like this, specifically advertised for recording Meets, is entirely kosher whether legally or according to Meet's TOS. (Of course IANAL.) If I were you, I'd add ridiculously large multiple disclaimers you have to check and click through to state you agree never to record any meeting participants without their consent. And even with that, I'm not sure how long this will stay up... But nevertheless, technologically it's a very cool tool, so congrats! :)
- metadat 4y ago
  > it could be used to record meeting participants without their consent. It's also possible to record a meeting inconspicuously by using literally any screen recording software. It's even built into macOS (via QuickTime), iOS (native function), and Android (native function). At the same time, including support for undisclosed meeting recording "out of the box" doesn't seem like a good idea, it's certainly not respectful.
  - crazygringo 4y ago
    I don't think you read up to my fourth paragraph. ;)
    - metadat 4y ago
      You're right. Sorry, my bad. Amusingly (or concerningly?), that is the only one I somehow missed. :-s
- WandaVision 4y ago
  People who are going to use this plugin is not Google's target audience for the paid tier. No companies which makes a non trivial amount of money are going to use this plugin instead of buying Google's paid plan. If you work in a company which will be going to use this plugin, get out of the company immediately and find a new job.
nvr219 4y ago
I'm not in startup world or in San Francisco so I gotta ask: is Google Meet popular with y'all? I'm on video calls pretty much all day every day and I'm mostly on Zoom or Teams, and I attend more WebEx meetings than Google Meet.
- agartner 4y ago
  Yes we exclusively use google meet. It's very nice. I feel pain every time I have to use anything else.
  - aloisdg 4y ago
    Coming from jitsi, it is a pain when I have to use google meet.
- FeistySkink 4y ago
  I'm not in SF either, and on Linux with Firefox on Wayland Meet just works with my camera through a capture card, external audio interface, screen sharing, etc. Every single time. I cringe when somebody mentions other tools, especially Teams. The only other tool that just works is whatever the calling software AWS uses and Jitsi.
  - darkwater 4y ago
    Well well well, Meet creeps many features if you don't use Chrome, Chime UI is so bad that a kitten dies each time someone uses it and finally Zoom works pretty nicely with the Linux client (they finally added almost all the features there lately), while Teams well, yes, it sucks.
    - FeistySkink 4y ago
      Did Zoom fix window sharing with Wayland?
      - zamadatix 4y ago
mozman 4y ago
Is Meet the same as Hangouts?
- piyu_sh 4y ago
  No, hangouts is now google chat, meet is what was previously google duo.
raulsrule 4y ago
Beesy dev (the other one) here. We'll update the extension's description to mention the consent scenario. In the meanwhile please share your experience, features or bugs here: https://beesy.canny.io/ https://beesy.canny.io/

58 points by piyu_sh 4y ago

jadbox 4y ago

This is super helpful (although it bypasses needing to pay for a premium gsuite plan). How does it work?

piyu_sh 4y ago
It uses screen recording apis provided by chrome itself. Also there are many such chrome extensions that record google meets but all of them are either paid or free with some limitations, so we're not the only ones bypassing premium gsuite.

arkadiyt 4y ago

Looks neat. Just a reminder for folks that some states (like California) are Two Party Consent states, meaning it is a crime to record the call unless all parties consent to it.

piyu_sh 4y ago
Can we solve this by putting a disclaimer in extension home page that it is upto the user to inform all parties and take their consent before recording ? Not really sure how to solve this, would love feedback.
- er4hn 4y ago
  You can invent a very elaborate system of pushing a request to the meet chat, having everyone consent to recording, parsing their responses, and offering feedback and help if it doesn't go as expected.. Or you can just put a disclaimer in your extension that some states require two party consent and remind the user to comply with local laws. Fwiw, I'm on a lot of zoom calls with outside companies that have a "note taker" that is clearly a bot that records video and maybe does transcription. Most of the time it is not mentioned.
- prmoustache 4y ago
  Why would you need their consent? I record all my pro teams meeting with OBS in order to be able to watch a part of it in case my attention has been drifting away. It is perfectly legal. I would totally need their consent if I had any plan to make those videos available to anyone else but that is another subject (diffusion).
  - sib301 4y ago
    Because in some states consent is required before recording a conversation. Regardless of what you plan to use the recording for.
    - prmoustache 4y ago
      Ok that is just not the law in my country. I think it is outside the scope of the software to define what one should or shouldn't do depending of every state/country juridiction.
  - encryptluks2 4y ago
    That is not how the law works. It is illegal to record them period.
    - prmoustache 4y ago
      See reply to comment abovr. Juridictions varies depending on location, I don't think a software developer has to make sure its usage complies with every juridictions, it is up to the users to do that.
      - encryptluks2 4y ago
        Yes, it is up to the user but I was replying to someone that said they record them still and just don't share them. I was stating that is still illegal under the law.
        nickcox 4y ago
- jollofricepeas 4y ago
  A disclaimer should work just fine as it’s the users responsibility to adhere to terms in their state/country. Add it to your “terms of use” as well. If you decide to turn it into a business, be sure to consult with an attorney (ie. 30mins).
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
hgsgm 4y ago
It's also illegal to record the expression of consent to start recording!

Raed667 4y ago

How likely is google to break this if it gets popular? They could easily override `chrome.tabCapture.capture` or some other function that you depend on once the Meet page is loaded.

piyu_sh 4y ago
Yeah can totally happen, and we'll be pretty sad but this started as a fun project so it'd be pretty cool that google changes their api because of us. Also I'll be doing some research on similar extensions on why they are not banned.
bubblethink 4y ago
There's always widevine.

citilife 4y ago

Are you using the local storage of the browser, then letting the user download from there? Otherwise it would still be loading up to some cloud. Personally, I use: https://www.read.ai/ https://www.read.ai/ Records the meetings, provides searchable transcripts, meeting summaries work pretty well, interactions, etc. The key difference is it joins as a bot, so I don't have to think about it. However, it does require the files are stored in the cloud (although, I read.ai has an option to just track talk time, mute, etc; which doesn't record the meeting). Not using any cloud would be a plus in my book.

piyu_sh 4y ago
It uses browser blob storage to store the recording. We also plan to add these searchable transcript, summaries and other features but depends on if this stays up :)

crazygringo 4y ago

I'm genuinely curious of Google will allow this to stay up, seeing as saving Meet recordings is a feature that belongs to the paid tier of Meet (Workspace). Not that they'd probably justify a takedown with that, but more that it could be used to record meeting participants without their consent. Which is actually a big deal -- all videoconferencing software I'm aware of puts up a big notice and indicator that you are being recorded, and this is for both legal and privacy reasons. While obviously you could always use any screen recording software (like OBS or even just QuickTime) to secretly record a video meeting... I'm not sure that a tool like this, specifically advertised for recording Meets, is entirely kosher whether legally or according to Meet's TOS. (Of course IANAL.) If I were you, I'd add ridiculously large multiple disclaimers you have to check and click through to state you agree never to record any meeting participants without their consent. And even with that, I'm not sure how long this will stay up... But nevertheless, technologically it's a very cool tool, so congrats! :)

metadat 4y ago
> it could be used to record meeting participants without their consent. It's also possible to record a meeting inconspicuously by using literally any screen recording software. It's even built into macOS (via QuickTime), iOS (native function), and Android (native function). At the same time, including support for undisclosed meeting recording "out of the box" doesn't seem like a good idea, it's certainly not respectful.
- crazygringo 4y ago
  I don't think you read up to my fourth paragraph. ;)
  - metadat 4y ago
    You're right. Sorry, my bad. Amusingly (or concerningly?), that is the only one I somehow missed. :-s
WandaVision 4y ago
People who are going to use this plugin is not Google's target audience for the paid tier. No companies which makes a non trivial amount of money are going to use this plugin instead of buying Google's paid plan. If you work in a company which will be going to use this plugin, get out of the company immediately and find a new job.

nvr219 4y ago

I'm not in startup world or in San Francisco so I gotta ask: is Google Meet popular with y'all? I'm on video calls pretty much all day every day and I'm mostly on Zoom or Teams, and I attend more WebEx meetings than Google Meet.

agartner 4y ago
Yes we exclusively use google meet. It's very nice. I feel pain every time I have to use anything else.
- aloisdg 4y ago
  Coming from jitsi, it is a pain when I have to use google meet.
FeistySkink 4y ago
I'm not in SF either, and on Linux with Firefox on Wayland Meet just works with my camera through a capture card, external audio interface, screen sharing, etc. Every single time. I cringe when somebody mentions other tools, especially Teams. The only other tool that just works is whatever the calling software AWS uses and Jitsi.
- darkwater 4y ago
  Well well well, Meet creeps many features if you don't use Chrome, Chime UI is so bad that a kitten dies each time someone uses it and finally Zoom works pretty nicely with the Linux client (they finally added almost all the features there lately), while Teams well, yes, it sucks.
  - FeistySkink 4y ago
    Did Zoom fix window sharing with Wayland?
    - zamadatix 4y ago

mozman 4y ago

Is Meet the same as Hangouts?

piyu_sh 4y ago
No, hangouts is now google chat, meet is what was previously google duo.

raulsrule 4y ago

Beesy dev (the other one) here. We'll update the extension's description to mention the consent scenario. In the meanwhile please share your experience, features or bugs here: https://beesy.canny.io/ https://beesy.canny.io/