NBC4 Investigates found Zoom meetings and webinars reported on a streaming site.
NBC4 Investigates found Zoom meetings and webinars reported on a streaming site. See what you can do to keep meetings and Webinars private.As work, school and community meetings increasingly move online, a streaming platform is reposting thousands of webinars for public viewing — sometimes without participants’ knowledge.
The website, called WebinarTV, hosts more than 200,000 recorded webinars, according to its own data. NBC Los Angeles' investigation found videos originating from across Southern California, including meetings tied to private universities, health organizations and nonprofit groups.The issue first gained attention after online journalists at 404 Media reported finding recordings of webinars they had participated in on the platform. In one case, a meeting involving Freedom of the Press was reposted without the organization’s permission, though it had been publicly accessible at the time.NBCLA also identified a webinar from a Los Angeles-based nonprofit, Vision y Compromiso that appeared on the site without its knowledge. “Vision y Compromiso places a high value on the work we do for community health workers, advocating for a healthy and dignified life,” said Fabiola Montiel-Téllez of the organization. “We did not approve for this webinar to be reposted.” Online complaints about WebinarTV have surfaced on platforms, including Trustpilot, Reddit and the Better Business Bureau, with users alleging unauthorized use of their content. In response to questions, WebinarTV CEO Michael Robertson said in a statement that the company notifies webinar hosts before listing their content. “WebinarTV sends two emails to hosts letting them know that their webinar is being added to the search engine,” Robertson said. “If they don’t want to be listed, they can click one link and be removed.” He added that the platform does not support private Zoom meetings, only webinars “open for anyone on the internet to view.” However, NBCLA found dozens of links on WebinarTV labeled as Zoom meetings, raising questions about how content is sourced. Zoom, the widely used video conferencing platform, said the issue is not related to any flaw in its system. “This activity is not the result of a vulnerability or security issue on the Zoom platform,” a Zoom spokesperson said in a statement. Experts say users can take steps to protect their meetings from being widely shared online. Recommendations include avoiding posting meeting links publicly, requiring participant registration, and enabling passcodes and waiting rooms. As online communication continues to grow, the situation highlights ongoing concerns about privacy and control over digital content once it is shared on the internet.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
A new study investigates left-handedness in animated movies.A new study investigates the handedness of Disney princesses over time, revealing current cultural attitudes.
Read more »
Charges pending after Portage Co. Sheriff’s Office investigates online child exploitation caseCharges are now pending after the Portage County Sheriff’s Office investigated an online child exploitation case involving a 14-year-old girl.
Read more »
Strengthening Executive Functioning Skills: A Free WebinarJoin this free webinar with ADHD & executive function specialist Michael McLeod to learn practical strategies for building executive functioning skills in children with ADHD. Attendees will gain insights into common challenges and receive tools to foster independence and improve performance.
Read more »
DOJ investigates California policy of placing men in women’s prisonsThe Justice Department initiated an investigation into California’s mixed-sex prison housing policy, which places men in women’s correctional facilities.
Read more »
Army Investigates Helicopter Flyover Near Kid Rock's HomeThe Army is reviewing a training run by two AH-64 Apache helicopters near Kid Rock's home after the entertainer posted videos of the aircraft, sparking concerns. The helicopters also flew over a protest.
Read more »
Army investigates Apache helicopter flights near Kid Rock’s homeU.S. Army officials have ordered a probe into two Apache helicopters that flew over Saturday's 'No Kings' protest in downtown Nashville, then engaged in low-altitude maneuvers near Kid Rock's home.
Read more »