Zoom is one of the most popular video-conferencing tools to use. It's easy to use and has a lot of features to make meetings, collaborations, and chats work best. However, it's not the best when it comes to privacy. Zoom calls are not end-to-end encrypted, they can suffer from "Zoom bombing," and they are subject to bad data privacy policies. Zoom especially got into hot water last year when they updated their terms of service in regards to AI training video calls, which raised questions about privacy.
If you are looking for more private and secure video-conferencing tools, I have a few that I have looked into. Stay away from Microsoft Teams and Google Meets, as they are services coming from two companies that are known for not respecting privacy.
1.) Jami
Jami is a free communication software. It is open source and supports end-to-end encryption and peer-to-peer, meaning that it does not rely on a server. Some features include video and audio calls, screen sharing and media streaming. and group chats. Jami does not require any personal information to create an account, so you can be anonymous. You do need to download it on your device for it to work. It’s available for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.
2.) Jitsi Meet
Jitsi Meet is a free, open-source video-calling software. The best thing about it is that it works in your web browser, meaning you don't have to download an app, though they do have apps for iOS, Android, and desktop. It can support end-to-end encryption, but it will only work if you use the following browsers: Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Brave, and Opera. Some features include an audio-only option and integration with other apps and websites.
One of their other features that Jisti Meet used to have is that you could make anonymous video call meetings. However, as of August 2023, they changed their policy, so to make meetings, you must have a Gmail, Facebook, or Github account to create moderated meetings.
3.) Infomaniak Meet
Infomaniak Meet is a video calling software created by Infomaniak, a Swiss web hosting provider. Infomaniak Meet is powered by the Jistsi Meet software. It is free and supports end-to-end encryption. Some features include screen sharing and being able to draw on the screen.
To use it, however, you do need to create an account. You can use it in Firefox and Chrome browsers or download the app. Apps are available for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.
Additional Mentions
Both are open source and support end-to-end encryption.
If you know of any other private and secure video calling software, please feel free to leave it in the comments!
Until Next Time,
Monique💻
Thanks for reading The Privacy Cloud! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my writing.