FireFox developer Mozilla and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) have launched a petition to introduce end-to-end encryption for all users, with over 19,000 users signing the open letter to Zoom CEO Eric Yuan.
The calls for free end-to-end encryption follow
Zoom’s announcement that it will only offer an end-to-end encryption meeting mode for paid accounts, a decision that ‘surprised and concerned’ Mozilla and the EFF.
The letter said: “We understand that Zoom is rightfully concerned about curbing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), but restricting end-to-end encryption to paid accounts is not the right solution.
“Such an approach ultimately punishes a larger number of users – from families using the tool to communicate, to activists using the tool to organize – who would benefit from the security of an end-to-end encrypted system.”
The move to restrict end-to-end encryption preceded Zoom’s announcement to
implement geo-blocking following demands from the People’s Republic of China to restrict access for PRC citizens to Tiananmen Square Massacre commemorations held on the platform.
The letter added: “Best-in-class security should not be something that only the wealthy or businesses can afford. Zoom’s plan not to provide end-to-end encryption to free users will leave exactly those populations that would benefit most from these technologies unprotected.
“Around the world, end-to-end encryption is already an important tool for journalists and activists that are living under repressive regimes and fighting censorship. We recognize that Zoom's business model includes offering premium features for paid accounts, but end-to-end encryption is simply too important to be one of those premium features.”