{"id":5535,"date":"2020-04-09T08:01:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-09T12:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/framinghamsource.com\/?p=5535"},"modified":"2020-04-09T09:56:04","modified_gmt":"2020-04-09T13:56:04","slug":"sen-markey-wants-online-conferencing-guidance-as-virtual-meetings-skyrockets-due-to-coronavirus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/framinghamsource.com\/index.php\/2020\/04\/09\/sen-markey-wants-online-conferencing-guidance-as-virtual-meetings-skyrockets-due-to-coronavirus\/","title":{"rendered":"Sen. Markey Wants Online Conferencing Guidance as Virtual Meetings Skyrockets Due to Coronavirus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The following is a media release from Sen. Ed Markey\u2019s offices. He was elected by voters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to serve the state in Washington DC in the US Senate. He is a Democrat<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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BOSTON – As countless Americans turn Zoom into a verb, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass), a member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, yesterday, April 8, urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to issue comprehensive guidelines for companies that provide online conferencing services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also called for a set of best practices for users that will help protect online safety and privacy during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Millions of Americans have become dependent on online conferencing services for work, school, and contact with loved ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A growing number of incidents over the past several weeks have revealed that these technologies may expose their users to significant cybersecurity and privacy risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs Americans\u2019 reliance on online conferencing grows, individuals are increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks and inappropriate access of their personal data,\u201d\u00a0the Senator writes in his letter to FTC Chair Joseph Simmons and the other Commissioners.\u00a0\u201cAlthough much of the recent reporting has focused on Zoom due to its growing user base, and I would urge the FTC to conduct a thorough investigation into Zoom, it is clear that no platform is immune from risks. Other services, including Cisco Webex, Microsoft Teams, and Slack have all previously had security flaws exposed, raising the need for the FTC to issue guidance generally \u2018to help businesses understand their responsibilities and comply with the law,\u2019 particularly during this pandemic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A copy of the letter can be found\u00a0HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In his letter, Senator Markey urges the FTC issue guidance to companies on topics including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n