I mentioned during the BASFA Zoom meeting that artist and Worldcon guest Larry Dixon had said before the Worldcon that he would need to avoid using Zoom because of a directive to (some?) Federal employees & contractors, and someone asked me for details. In honesty, I can't really remember many details, and heard of the matter second-hand, but am guessing this is what he had in mind -- a prohibition of use of most versions of Zoom by DoD personnel in any official capacity:
The popular free video conferencing application Zoom is now officially off-limits to Defense Department personnel due to increased security concerns, even as military officials are encouraging increased telework during the coronavirus pandemic. Service members, contractors and civilians can no longer use Zoom in an official capacity, said Air Force Lt. Col Robert Carver, a Pentagon spokesman. Voice of America was first to report the ban on Friday following a warning from the Federal Bureau of Investigations [...] https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/04/13/its-official-most-zoom-versions-now-limits-military.html One notes the 'official capacity' qualifier, but I gather that Mr. Dixon was being extra-cautious. His guest page: https://conzealand.nz/larry-dixon-guest (Above is just a surmise, and I'm speaking only for myself.) -- Cheers, "Maybe the law ain't perfect, but it's the only Rick Moen one we got, and without it we got nuthin'." r...@linuxmafia.com -- U.S. Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves, circa 1875 McQ! (4x80) _______________________________________________ Basfa mailing list Basfa@lists.basfa.org http://lists.basfa.org/listinfo.cgi/basfa-basfa.org
