{"id":8595,"date":"2022-02-13T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-13T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncjolt.org\/?p=8595"},"modified":"2022-02-25T21:46:53","modified_gmt":"2022-02-25T21:46:53","slug":"zoom-culture-as-virtual-meetings-become-increasingly-popular-attorneys-should-be-wary-of-the-legal-implications-that-come-with-this-new-normal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/journals.law.unc.edu\/ncjolt\/blogs\/zoom-culture-as-virtual-meetings-become-increasingly-popular-attorneys-should-be-wary-of-the-legal-implications-that-come-with-this-new-normal\/","title":{"rendered":"Zoom Culture: As Virtual Meetings Become Increasingly Popular, Attorneys Should be Wary of the Legal Implications That Come with This \u201cNew Normal\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As the Pandemic pushes into 2022, Zoom and other virtual networks continue to provide the platform for work meetings, conferences, academic classes, happy hour sessions, and more. When the pandemic hit, people throughout the country quickly panicked. The question of \u201chow can we conduct our usual activities without leaving the house?\u201d seemed like a foreign one. Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype, and other virtual platforms quickly proved to be the solution. As a result of the sudden Pandemic, we quickly transformed into our new virtual \u201cnormal.\u201d As we approach the two-year mark since the Pandemic hit, it is important that we pause, and examine the legal implications associated with virtual meeting places to protect ourselves, and our clients. Attorneys should be wary of the potential consequences arising from \u201cZoom bombing,\u201d Zoom features, and online communication in general, to ensure the protection of attorney-client privilege.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we approach the two-year mark since the Pandemic hit, it is important that we pause, and examine the legal implications associated with virtual meeting places to protect ourselves, and our clients.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cZoom bombing\u201d<\/a> occurs when uninvited people join a Zoom meeting. Zoom bombing isn\u2019t a security flaw within the app, rather, it occurs from people sharing Zoom links between masses of people. If you search \u201czoom.us\u201d on Google or social media sites, random public meeting links pop up, and without meeting passwords, anyone can join. American journalist Jessica Lessin, the editor-in-chief of the technology website The Information <\/em>recounted being Zoom bombed in a Tweet<\/a> last March. Zoom bombing could destroy attorney-client privilege if the uninvited user overhears communication between the attorney and their client. Other poor security measures within the app could comprise attorney-client privilege as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Attorneys should be wary of using the Zoom recording feature and advise clients of the risks associated with Zoom meetings. If any third party hears communication, regardless of the means through which the information is obtained, privilege is destroyed. Thus, attorneys must be certain that no unauthorized persons are in the meeting; the attorney is certain the recording feature is disabled or within the attorneys\u2019 control; and that the client is not within earshot of any third parties. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips for attorney Zoom users: <\/p>\n\n\n\n