Zoom, the popular video conferencing platform, has clarified its stance on ownership and control of customer content in response to concerns about its AI tools. In a blog post on Monday, Zoom’s chief product officer, Smita Hashim, reassured users that the company does not train its AI models on audio, video, or text chats without customer consent. She emphasized, “Our customers continue to own and control their content.”
The controversy arose after a Stack Diary article reported changes to Zoom’s terms of service, which seemed to give the company broad control over user data for AI purposes. Hashim addressed this concern by explaining that the new sections in the terms of service were intended to clarify Zoom’s license to stream user content, rather than assert ownership over it. Similar concerns have previously arisen with regards to other platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Dropbox, and Google Drive.
Hashim further emphasized that customer content is used solely to enhance the performance and accuracy of Zoom’s AI services. The data shared by users will not be used for training any third-party models. Additionally, Zoom notifies participants when AI services are being utilized during meetings, ensuring transparency and consent.
The company’s recent AI-powered features, such as meeting summarization and AI-assisted messaging, have been introduced with an opt-in trial basis. Account owners and administrators can choose whether to enable these features, and if they do, Zoom provides a transparent consent process regarding the training of AI models using customer content.
By clarifying its position on ownership and control of customer content, Zoom aims to address any concerns about data privacy and reinforce its commitment to user rights. It’s essential for users to understand how their data is being utilized in AI applications, and Zoom’s efforts to provide transparency in this regard are commendable.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does Zoom own the content shared during meetings?
No, Zoom customers retain ownership and control of the content they share during meetings. Zoom clarifies that it does not claim ownership or control over customer content.
2. How does Zoom use customer content for AI services?
Zoom only uses customer content to improve the performance and accuracy of its AI services. The data shared by users is not used to train any third-party models.
3. Are customers aware when Zoom’s AI services are being used during meetings?
Yes, Zoom ensures transparency by notifying meeting participants when AI services are being utilized. This way, users have full knowledge and consent regarding the usage of their data.
4. Can customers choose whether to enable Zoom’s AI features?
Yes, Zoom’s AI-powered features are available on an opt-in basis. Account owners and administrators can choose whether to enable these features, providing control to the customers.
5. How does Zoom protect user privacy and data?
Zoom is committed to protecting user privacy and data. By clarifying its data usage policy and providing transparent consent processes, Zoom prioritizes user rights and privacy in its AI-related services.
(Source: The Verge)