This archive report was first published on 5 May 2020.
As the world adapts to a new normal, video conferencing has become a crucial part of our daily lives. With the COVID-19 pandemic, Zoom has dominated this space, growing from 10 million daily users in December to 300 million by April.
However, rivals like Google and Microsoft are now stepping up to take part in this coveted space. Google Meet, a video conferencing service previously known as Hangouts Meet, is now freely available to everyone with a Google account.
Designed for educational and enterprise needs, Google Meet allows users to hold meetings with up to 100 people. This move is aimed at countering Zoom's popularity and providing a secure alternative for users.
Google has emphasized the importance of privacy and security in its Meet service. According to Javier Soltero, VP of G Suite, 'We designed Meet to operate on a secure foundation, providing the protections needed to keep our users safe, their data secure, and their information private.'
Some of the security measures taken by Google include providing host controls, such as admitting or denying entry to a meeting, and muting or removing participants if needed. Additionally, anonymous users are restricted from joining meetings created by individual accounts, and Meet meeting codes are complex by default to prevent brute-force guessing.
Google Meet video meetings are also encrypted in transit, and all recordings stored in Google Drive are encrypted in transit and at rest. This move is set to be rolled out in May, providing users with a secure and free alternative to Zoom.
Published on May 5, 2020
