Zoom has introduced several new data storage tools to give users greater control and insights into their privacy.
Zoom’s privacy, product, and engineering teams have produced easy-to-use solutions for users to manage their data and privacy preferences better. Among the myriad features Zoom is launching are European Economic Area (EEA)-based localised data storage, data subject access areas, and audit log tracking.
Lynn Haaland, Chief Compliance, Ethics, & Privacy Officer and Deputy General Counsel at Zoom, said:
We’re proud to announce these privacy updates for our customers. These new tools offer our European customers more control over where their data is processed and stored, along with the option to delete personal data. Institutions can choose us knowing that they’ve selected a vendor that’s committed to protecting their data.”
Concerns around security, compliance and privacy continue to grow with hybrid working becoming the new normal — and the risks to sensitive information that accompany that workplace transition — while the EU’s digital sovereignty agenda has encouraged vendors to reinforce their security and privacy systems.
An Extensive List of Data Protection Features
Perhaps the most significant new privacy-oriented feature that Zoom is introducing is EEA-based data storage. Customers based in the EEA can now choose specific data for meetings, webinars, and team chats to be stored within the EEA. Zoom intends to ensure customer confidence that their eligible data is secure within EEA boundaries.
Zoom’s announcement added that “this data will only be shared with US teams in individual cases and exceptional circumstances, such as with Zoom’s Trust & Safety team”.
Zoom has added a GDPR-compliant tool for administrators to manage data subject requests for access or deletion of a user’s personal data for Zoom meetings, webinars, and team chat.
Administrator audit logs record the actions that IT admins process on behalf of users. Account owners and administrators can track when these audit logs are exported or deleted.
Zoom also confirmed that users would have more “visibility into Zoom’s data retention and deletion policies as well as the standards and actions the company is taking to align with policies”. These policies can be found in the company’s privacy sheet.
It is easier for users to opt out of Zoom marketing communications and newsletters by using Zoom’s Marketing Preference Centre. At the same time, Zoom has also established a European support team, meaning customers who opt-in can enjoy direct technical support. Local employees process support information within the EEA during regular business hours.
Zoom’s new tools for data subject access requests and data deletion are available in the “Privacy” section of Zoom’s web portal. The Marketing Preference Centre can be accessed via the “Manage Preferences” link in Zoom’s marketing emails,
Zoom’s AI Announcements
Another significant Zoom announcement this week has been Zoom IQ’s generative AI-powered features, now available for customers on select plans on a free trial basis. Those users can now access the Zoom Meeting summary and Zoom Team Chat compose features that intend to activity and enable more effective collaboration.
“With the introduction of these new capabilities in Zoom IQ, an incredible generative AI assistant, teams can further enhance their productivity for everyday tasks, freeing up more time for creative work and expanding collaboration,” commented Smita Hashim, chief product officer at Zoom.
Zoom’s OpenAI-powered features were initially revealed at this year’s Enterprise Connect. Meeting summaries mean meeting hosts can generate a summary powered by Zoom’s own large language models and share it via Zoom Team Chat and email without having to record the conversation. Hosts receive automated summaries and can share them with attendees and those who couldn’t attend.
The Zoom team chat compose feature enables users to draft messages derived from the context of a team chat thread. The feature can also change message tone and length and rephrase responses to personalise text recommendations. This solution leverages OpenAI’s technology.
Last month, Zoom also invested in Anthropic to advance its AI capabilities. The collaboration with AI safety and research business Anthropic enhances Zoom’s federated approach to AI by integrating Anthropic’s AI assistant, Claude, with Zoom’s collaborative platform. Zoom Contact Centre is the first solution to be integrated with Claude.
“Anthropic’s Constitutional AI model is primed to provide safe and responsible integrations for our next-generation innovations, beginning with the Zoom Contact Center portfolio,” Hashim explained of the partnership and investment. “With Claude guiding agents toward trustworthy resolutions and powering self-service for end-users, companies will be able to take customer relationships to another level.”
Leveraging Anthropic’s AI to complement the tech provided through the OpenAI partnership fostered innovations for Zoom IQ, including Zoom IQ’s capability to summarise in real-time what users might have missed if they joined a Zoom meeting late. They can then ask the AI further questions.
