S.T.O.P. Commends NYC Education Dep’t For Zoom Ban

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For Immediate Release S.T.O.P. Commends NYC Education Dep’t For Zoom Ban, Cautions New Software May Have Similar Vulnerabilities   (NEW YORK, NY, 4/6/2020) – Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy group, commends the New York City Department of Education (DOE) for banning the use of Zoom videoconferencing for remote instruction. The statement comes two days after DOE officials urged New York City’s 75,000 teachers to migrate to Microsoft Teams videoconferencing “as soon as possible”, but S.T.O.P. noted that the new software may have similar vulnerabilities.   SEE: NYC forbids schools from using Zoom for remote learning due to privacy and security concerns https://chalkbeat.org/posts/ny/2020/04/04/nyc-forbids-schools-from-using-zoom-for-remote-learning-after-privacy-concerns-emerge/ Zoom banned from New York City schools due to privacy and security flaws https://www.fastcompany.com/90485589/to-stomp-out-covid-19-america-will-need-a-better-warning-system “We commend the DOE for banning Zoom, but we fear Microsoft Teams will suffer the same difficulties,” said S.T.O.P. Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn. “We are deeply alarmed by allegations that Zoom deceived the public and misrepresented their privacy and encryption practices. New York’s students need a safe learning environment more than ever. However, we fear that Microsoft Teams may suffer from many of the same problems we have seen with Zoom. The public needs much greater transparency about how Microsoft Teams encrypts and safeguards student data."   The DOE initially recommended teachers use Zoom when it suspended in-person instruction, but the software was widely susceptible to harassment and trolling. Zoom is also under investigation by the New York Attorney General for overstating its privacy and encryption capabilities.   SEE: New York Attorney General Looks Into Zoom’s Privacy Practices https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/30/technology/new-york-attorney-general-zoom-privacy.html The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project is a non-profit advocacy organization and legal services provider hosted by the Urban Justice Center. S.T.O.P. litigates and advocates for privacy, fighting excessive local and state-level surveillance. Our work highlights the discriminatory impact of surveillance on Muslim Americans, immigrants, and communities of color.   - END –