SpaceX Prohibits Employees From Communicating Via Zoom

According to Reuters, Elon Musk’s SpaceX has forbidden its staff from using video conferencing app Zoom for the reason of privacy and security. This announcement was publicized days after U.S. law enforcement that warned users against the security of the app. 

Zoom and other related platforms’ popularity have risen significantly after many Americans have been commanded to stay home to slow down the spread of coronavirus. 

The fact that SpaceX has banned on Zoom Video Communications Inc has pointed out plenty of challenges of many aerospace manufacturers that need to be dealt with. Now they are not only required to develop technology to maintain national security but also trying to keep their employees safe from being infected by the outspread epidemic. 

In an email sent on March 28, SpaceX announced that Zoom had been prohibited in immediate ways, and email, text or phone would be encouraged as alternative means of communication.  

Together with the company, one of its biggest customers, NASA also decided to ban its staff from using Zoom. The news was provided by the spokesperson Stephanie Schieholz from the U.S. space agency. 

On Monday, a warning about Zoom from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston office was announced, which told users not to hold meetings on the site public or share links widely, owing to its reports of unidentified participants invading school sessions. This issue is called “zoombombing”. 

One day after, The Intercept, which is an investigative news site, has reported that Zoom video is not using end-to-end encryption between meeting participants; therefore the company could have access to the sessions. 

Then in this company’s blog post, they apologized for confusing people by telling that Zoom meetings could use end-to-end encryption. They have always attempted to protect their users’ data by using end-to-end encryption. Additionally, they said all content from Zoom meetings was encrypted where everyone used the app and the sessions would not be recorded. However, they were not capable of encrypting content when users log into other devices.