Here's how to keep group video calls safe spaces during coronavirus pandemic

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PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Americans have come to rely on video conferencing platforms like Zoom to stay connected with work, school, family and friends during the coronavirus pandemic. The FBI just issued a warning about uninvited guests interrupting calls with inappropriate and hateful content — a practice called "zoombombing." And the Anti-Defamation League has some guidelines that can help.

Shira Goodman, regional director for the ADL in Philadelphia, says some zoombombers are just people who want to be disruptive.

"But there's also a more malicious side. We're seeing people using it and interrupting meetings, showing Nazi symbols, saying racist things, anti-Semitic things," she said. "Domestic extremists are talking about it, so they're manipulating this technology to kind of spew hate and sow division at a time when people are really seeking ways to be connected."

There are some simple ways people can protect their meetings and virtual hangouts from being hijacked. Goodman says they've created a list of guidelines.

"Don't make your meetings public. Instead make them password-protected," she said. "Avoid sharing the link to your meetings on public platforms like Twitter and Facebook. And only allow the host of the meeting to share their screen."

The ADL has this safety checklist:

Before meeting

  • Disable autosaving chats
  • Disable file transfer
  • Disable screen sharing for non-hosts
  • Disable remote control
  • Disable annotations
  • Use per-meeting ID, not personal ID
  • Disable “Join Before Host”
  • Enable “Waiting Room”

During meeting

  • Assign at least two co-hosts
  • Mute all participants
  • Lock the meeting, if all attendees are present

If you are zoombombed

  • Remove problematic users and disable their ability to rejoin when asked
  • Lock the meeting to prevent additional zoombombing

The ADL website has further instructions.

"I think we’re seeing in so many ways the best of America right now — creative ways people are coming together, helping their neighbors, looking out for each other — and we just have to fight back against these impulses of those people who would seek to divide us, who really are trying to promote hate and sow division. We have to stand together and fight against that," Goodman said.

Anyone who is zoombombed is encouraged to file a report on the ADL website.