Zoom introduces end-to-end encryption to its cloud phone service

Zoom introduces end-to-end encryption on Zoom Phone. This feature will also be available in Break Rooms soon.

Today, Zoom has decided to go further in terms of protecting privacy and security in general by expanding end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to more of its services. First, Zoom Phone, its cloud phone system. Users of this service will be able to activate end-to-end encryption during calls to one recipient. Once activated, E2EE will secure calls with crypto keys that only the caller and recipient have. You can check your E2EE status by sharing the security code with another member.

Zoom introduces end-to-end encryption on Zoom Phone

Currently, you can only enable E2EE on a Zoom phone for calls between users of the same Zoom Business account. They must be on the desktop computer or the Zoom Phone mobile app and have automatic call recording turned off. Account holders or administrators will also need to activate E2EE through the web portal before users can activate it in their calls.

This feature will also be available in Break Rooms soon.

In addition, E2EE will soon be available in break rooms, the small chat rooms that often pop up during large gatherings. Each break room can have its own encryption key. Again, account holders or administrators will need to enable this feature for their users.

Zoom began rolling out E2EE for meetings in October 2020, months after the company’s huge surge in popularity following the Covid-19 pandemic and the advent of zoombombing. Zoom originally planned to limit E2EE to paid accounts, but ended up changing its copy after much debate from users.