Video conferencing is a convenient alternative to in-person meetings, but there are unique security risks journalists must keep in mind. In this series of articles for Reporters Without Borders (RSF), tech security expert Bence Kócsi covers popular video conferencing platforms, explains the risks journalists should be aware of, and the tools they can use to keep themselves safe.
For journalists, video conferencing may be a more practical and safer alternative to physically meeting sources with limited freedom of movement and association. Still, while the physical risks have been reduced, video conferencing introduces entirely new dangers to the safety of all participants in the call. Despite developers’ best efforts, no video conferencing platform is entirely safe and secure, and the users have to use the platform safely as well in order to protect each other.
The common risks when using video conferencing
- Unintentionally broadcasting a private moment. Many people have been caught doing or saying private things in front of a camera or microphone while forgetting or being unaware that they are visible or audible to others.
- Meetings being secretly recorded. Hackers may try to access and record the meeting through security flaws in the platform. But even if the security is up to scratch, there is no way to fully prevent a participant in a meeting from secretly recording audio or video. Even a recording made with the consent of the participants may be leaked, stolen, or accidentally shared.
- Unauthorised participants infiltrating meetings. Video conferences are often open to anyone with access to the link. If the link or passcode leaks outside the intended participants, unwanted people can enter the meeting to disrupt it or spy. Important government meetings have been infiltrated in this way. In a situation where meetings contain a large number of participants, or where participants are concealing their faces and voices for security reasons, it can become extremely difficult to identify an uninvited guest.
General safety recommendations
- Disable the camera and microphone when not in use. Built-in laptop/tablet cameras and microphones can be disabled in settings, however a surer method of protection is either physically covering the camera with a piece of tape, or using an external camera or microphone that can be unplugged.
- Do not use the camera or microphone unless necessary. If the meeting is secret or involves sensitive information, participants should keep their cameras off and limit their microphone use, using secure text chat features instead. This will reduce the chance of accidentally broadcasting private information, and the chance of being identified in a recording.
- Use a fake or inconspicuous background. If cameras are necessary, journalists should conceal their location as much as possible by using a preset background or blur theirs.
- Assume that the meeting is not secure. There is always a chance that a meeting may be recorded or infiltrated, so journalists should not say or do anything they do not want shared. Sensitive information should be transferred in more secure ways wherever possible.
- Properly identify every participant in the meeting. Even in large meetings, and meetings where participants want to be anonymous, it is vital to verify that every attendee was legitimately invited, and also that every attendee is who they claim to be.
This series later goes into specific detail for three popular video conferencing platforms:
→ Read Part 2: Zoom
→ Read Part 3: Google Meet
Bence Kócsi is an experienced freelance editor, writer, and researcher. He has been focusing on a wide range of topics including digital security, technology, historical linguistics, politics, and medicine.