Zoom is being used much more widely during the current Covid-19 pandemic, as workplaces and schools have been closed in a bid to limit movement. AFP
Zoom is being used much more widely during the current Covid-19 pandemic, as workplaces and schools have been closed in a bid to limit movement. AFP
Zoom is being used much more widely during the current Covid-19 pandemic, as workplaces and schools have been closed in a bid to limit movement. AFP
Zoom is being used much more widely during the current Covid-19 pandemic, as workplaces and schools have been closed in a bid to limit movement. AFP

Zoom hires former US National Security Adviser to address concerns


Alkesh Sharma
  • English
  • Arabic

Zoom Video hired US President Donald Trump's former National Security Adviser in a bid to address concerns about the security of its app.

HR McMaster, who is a former army lieutenant general and served in Mr Trump's administration in 2017 and 2018, is now an independent director on the company's board, Zoom Video said in a blog.

“My goal is to help the company navigate rapid growth and assist in meeting Zoom’s commitment to becoming the world’s most secure video communications platform,” said Mr McMaster.

“Zoom does significant good for our society … allowing people to connect and collaborate face-to-face from anywhere. This extraordinary capability is vital now more than ever."

Zoom is being used much more widely during the Covid-19 pandemic, as workplaces and schools have been closed in a bid to limit movement. It has been adopted by businesses, schools, universities and by individuals for social purposes, as well as for entertainment and fitness classes.

The company's shares have more than doubled since January and its market capitalisation stands at $41.7 billion (Dh153.1bn).

During his decorated military career, Mr McMaster built expertise in leading through “challenging situations and has demonstrated tremendous strength of character”, said Zoom’s chief executive Eric Yuan.

“His leadership will be invaluable as Zoom continues to enable people to connect on a global scale,” he added.

The company has also hired Jonathan Kallmer, executive vice president for policy at the Information Technology Industry Council, a Washington-based trade association, as its new head of global public policy and government relations.

“I am excited to join this team that shares my policy priorities of communicating honestly, building trust, and developing understanding of innovation and technology in governments around the world,” said Mr Kallmer.

The current number of daily meeting participants across Zoom’s paid and free services has surged to 300 million, from about 10 million in December.

But the practice of "Zoombombing" – gatecrashing other people's meetings – has presented problems for the company and increased scrutiny of its software encryption. Other concerns have arisen regarding how the company has shared users' data.

The company, which went public in April 2019, said that the offices of more than 25 attorneys general in the US had raised questions about privacy issues and it is working with the authorities.

Many organisations, including Google, Daimler and SpaceX, have already barred the use of the app due to security concerns. Government agencies in Taiwan and Singapore have banned the app, pointing out its vulnerabilities to hacking.

Hackers also reportedly put up half a million Zoom logins for sale on the dark web, which were bought by a cyber security intelligence company. Zoom, in response, said it was common for bad actors to test large numbers of already compromised credentials from other platforms to see if they’ve been reused.

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Full list of Emmy 2020 nominations

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Three-day coronation

Royal purification

The entire coronation ceremony extends over three days from May 4-6, but Saturday is the one to watch. At the time of 10:09am the royal purification ceremony begins. Wearing a white robe, the king will enter a pavilion at the Grand Palace, where he will be doused in sacred water from five rivers and four ponds in Thailand. In the distant past water was collected from specific rivers in India, reflecting the influential blend of Hindu and Buddhist cosmology on the coronation. Hindu Brahmins and the country's most senior Buddhist monks will be present. Coronation practices can be traced back thousands of years to ancient India.

The crown

Not long after royal purification rites, the king proceeds to the Baisal Daksin Throne Hall where he receives sacred water from eight directions. Symbolically that means he has received legitimacy from all directions of the kingdom. He ascends the Bhadrapitha Throne, where in regal robes he sits under a Nine-Tiered Umbrella of State. Brahmins will hand the monarch the royal regalia, including a wooden sceptre inlaid with gold, a precious stone-encrusted sword believed to have been found in a lake in northern Cambodia, slippers, and a whisk made from yak's hair.

The Great Crown of Victory is the centrepiece. Tiered, gold and weighing 7.3 kilograms, it has a diamond from India at the top. Vajiralongkorn will personally place the crown on his own head and then issues his first royal command.

The audience

On Saturday afternoon, the newly-crowned king is set to grant a "grand audience" to members of the royal family, the privy council, the cabinet and senior officials. Two hours later the king will visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred space in Thailand, which on normal days is thronged with tourists. He then symbolically moves into the Royal Residence.

The procession

The main element of Sunday's ceremonies, streets across Bangkok's historic heart have been blocked off in preparation for this moment. The king will sit on a royal palanquin carried by soldiers dressed in colourful traditional garb. A 21-gun salute will start the procession. Some 200,000 people are expected to line the seven-kilometre route around the city.

Meet the people

On the last day of the ceremony Rama X will appear on the balcony of Suddhaisavarya Prasad Hall in the Grand Palace at 4:30pm "to receive the good wishes of the people". An hour later, diplomats will be given an audience at the Grand Palace. This is the only time during the ceremony that representatives of foreign governments will greet the king.

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