About Zoom meetings- a theory

[יהוה_saves]

i mentioned in another thread an experience i had one night during a midweek Zoom meeting in early April of last year. What happened was that I had inadvertently unmuted my audio, but before i was able to remute it, it suddenly just remuted itself. I thought it was strange so i sent a chat to the brother running the Zoom and i said “oh sorry i didn’t mean to unmute my audio but how did it get remuted?” he replied saying that he remuted it and that brothers monitor the meetings so that everything goes smoothly.

Then it dawned on me that perhaps they monitor the breakout rooms too - the only formal fellowship the congregation has. So, if they are watching and listening in, they know what every JW is talking about, what they say and with whom. If there is a problem with the subject of someone’s convo, they don’t have to rely on someone to rat them out anymore- they’re watching and listening. They’re watching and listening to everything JWs say to each other over Zoom.

Go back and listen to Gov body Update 8 2021 with Br. Lett. He told JWs that if they’re vaccinated, they can visit their families as if the GB is giving permission for JWs to mingle with their own families, and setting the parameters for said visits. but Lett does not mention visiting other JWs. Perhaps the GB is trying to restrict JWs’ exposure to each other- limiting their ability to share things with each other that would normally remain private. The GB’s power over JWs must be intoxicating- moreso than Tony Morris’s 18 year Macallan Reserve. They won’t give that up easily. For this and other rea$son$ i think Zoom is probably permanent.

 

[BARNABY THE DOG.]

i mentioned in another thread an experience i had one night during a midweek Zoom meeting in early April of last year. What happened was that I had inadvertently unmuted my audio, but before i was able to remute it, it suddenly just remuted itself. I thought it was strange so i sent a chat to the brother running the Zoom and i said “oh sorry i didn’t mean to unmute my audio but how did it get remuted?” he replied saying that he remuted it and that brothers monitor the meetings so that everything goes smoothly.

Then it dawned on me that perhaps they monitor the breakout rooms too - the only formal fellowship the congregation has. So, if they are watching and listening in, they know what every JW is talking about, what they say and with whom. If there is a problem with the subject of someone’s convo, they don’t have to rely on someone to rat them out anymore- they’re watching and listening. They’re watching and listening to everything JWs say to each other over Zoom.

Go back and listen to Gov body Update 8 2021 with Br. Lett. He told JWs that if they’re vaccinated, they can visit their families as if the GB is giving permission for JWs to mingle with their own families, and setting the parameters for said visits. but Lett does not mention visiting other JWs. Perhaps the GB is trying to restrict JWs’ exposure to each other- limiting their ability to share things with each other that would normally remain private. The GB’s power over JWs must be intoxicating- moreso than Tony Morris’s 18 year Macallan Reserve. They won’t give that up easily. For this and other rea$son$ i think Zoom is probably permanent.

Is third party listening without informing the participants legal?

 

[Watchman]

Then it dawned on me that perhaps they monitor the breakout rooms too - the only formal fellowship the congregation has. So, if they are watching and listening in, they know what every JW is talking about, what they say and with whom. If there is a problem with the subject of someone’s convo, they don’t have to rely on someone to rat them out anymore- they’re watching and listening. They’re watching and listening to everything JWs say to each other over Zoom.

I have never been on Zoom. Can you tell me what a "breakout room" is?

 

[TruthLover]

At my meetings, they record the meeting, it comes up with live recording when they do. They don't record the breakout rooms, not sure if that's possible. An individual could obviously record it themselves.

 

[BARNABY THE DOG.]

I have never been on Zoom. Can you tell me what a "breakout room" is?

I understood it as a private place of discussion within the same setting. More of an anteroom in days gone by.

 

[TruthLover]

I have never been on Zoom. Can you tell me what a "breakout room" is?

After the meeting, they give everyone the option of joining a breakout room, it's to allow people to talk to each other in smaller groups. Several rooms within the meeting basically.

 

[יהוה_saves]

At my meetings, they record the meeting, it comes up with live recording when they do. They don't record the breakout rooms, not sure if that's possible. An individual could obviously record it themselves.

yes but a brother can monitor and do the breakout roms

@Watchman Robert- the break out room is a separate area where people can go “mingle” aka multiple face-time like video chats with perhaps 12 or less but no more. it can be as few as two or three- so people can talk to each other and carry on casual conversations. They open this feature up before and after every Zoom meeting. there can absolutely be no assumption of privacy during these before and after meeting conversation sessions even if your chatting privately between you and one other person.

 

[יהוה_saves]

Is third party listening without informing the participants legal?

it depends. but you know watchtower- GB “law” supercedes everything else.

 

[יהוה_saves]

it depends. but you know watchtower- GB “law” supercedes everything else.

I understood it as a private place of discussion within the same setting. More of an anteroom in days gone by.

also- there could be terms and conditions in the Zoom platform itself- but again- since when does Watchtower respect those things if not in the best interest of Watchtower? if you get a tap on the shoulder by an elder- that’s all there is to it-

 

[PJ54]

Is third party listening without informing the participants legal?

I think it depends on the state/providence/territory of the country.

 

[Robert194972]

i mentioned in another thread an experience i had one night during a midweek Zoom meeting in early April of last year. What happened was that I had inadvertently unmuted my audio, but before i was able to remute it, it suddenly just remuted itself. I thought it was strange so i sent a chat to the brother running the Zoom and i said “oh sorry i didn’t mean to unmute my audio but how did it get remuted?” he replied saying that he remuted it and that brothers monitor the meetings so that everything goes smoothly.

Then it dawned on me that perhaps they monitor the breakout rooms too - the only formal fellowship the congregation has. So, if they are watching and listening in, they know what every JW is talking about, what they say and with whom. If there is a problem with the subject of someone’s convo, they don’t have to rely on someone to rat them out anymore- they’re watching and listening. They’re watching and listening to everything JWs say to each other over Zoom.

Go back and listen to Gov body Update 8 2021 with Br. Lett. He told JWs that if they’re vaccinated, they can visit their families as if the GB is giving permission for JWs to mingle with their own families, and setting the parameters for said visits. but Lett does not mention visiting other JWs. Perhaps the GB is trying to restrict JWs’ exposure to each other- limiting their ability to share things with each other that would normally remain private. The GB’s power over JWs must be intoxicating- moreso than Tony Morris’s 18 year Macallan Reserve. They won’t give that up easily. For this and other rea$son$ i think Zoom is probably permanent.

When we go on zoom does not the zoom host share their screen with us. Maybe the host can access our machines? I know that happens with remote assistance. where someone rings up and says they are a Microsoft tech, and tells you they have been alerted to some kind of problem. You say no worries here. Oh no according to our alert system you have a problem but don't worry we'll have it fixed in a jif. Ok what do yo want me to do? then you give them the OK to share your screen with them. That is when they hack you. However the one who shares with others can hack back. Maybe the brothers have that ability on zoom? Just another theory.

 

[BillyRay]

They watch to see if any of the brothers and sisters have their mics unmuted - particularly when someone is speaking - so that there’s not any distracting background noise. There’s no diabolical motive behind it. It’s actually a breach of etiquette and sort of rude to leave yourself unmuted.

I use Zoom for business meetings every day. The same rules apply there. The Host will auto mute an open mic when someone is speaking.

BTW…. Breakout rooms are a free for all. Pretty much everyone’s mic is open. It’s appropriate there.

 

[Nomex]

Is third party listening without informing the participants legal?

It would as long as there is no expectation of privacy. For example, anywhere you go in public, there is no expectation of privacy, that is why it is legal to record police anywhere in the public. Even on your own property like your front lawn, there is no expectation of privacy so someone can record your house, that's how Google earth gets away with it. A telephone call is different unless it is a conference call. Same would be true with these Zoom meetings since they are essentially public. Invite only does not mean you have expectation of privacy.

 

[יהוה_saves]

It would as long as there is no expectation of privacy. For example, anywhere you go in public, there is no expectation of privacy, that is why it is legal to record police anywhere in the public. Even on your own property like your front lawn, there is no expectation of privacy so someone can record your house, that's how Google earth gets away with it. A telephone call is different unless it is a conference call. Same would be true with these Zoom meetings since they are essentially public. Invite only does not mean you have expectation of privacy.

even if their were an expectation of privacy, could anyone really expect Watchtower to respect JWs privacy when the elders are told not to even report child molestation in a mandatory reporting states (Illinois) simultaneously claiming to be clergy to circumvent legal discovery obligations?

 

[BillyRay]

C’mon Asador. You sound like a one trick pony. Zoom — straight to pedophilia?
I’m not saying that your information is wrong. It’s definitely not. I’m just saying that linking these two topics together seems over the top. YMMV

Zoom is a proprietary piece of software. To try and modify it for illicit purposes would not only be extremely difficult, but also highly illegal. Modifying a patented and copy-written piece of software is asking for a multi-million dollar lawsuit.

The program that’s able to be downloaded from Zoom cannot hack host computers. I know the software very well. To even claim it is preposterous. In the business world, we record each meeting so that we can make it available to a larger audience, or those who couldn’t attend. I guess that almost anything is possible. But the software cannot perform outside its parameters.

Note…. Poster name was listed incorrectly in my original post. It has been corrected. Apologies.

 

[יהוה_saves]

C’mon Nomex. You sound like a one trick pony. Zoom — straight to pedophilia?
I’m not saying that your information is wrong. It’s definitely not. I’m just saying that linking these two topics together seems over the top. YMMV

Zoom is a proprietary piece of software. To try and modify it for illicit purposes would not only be extremely difficult, but also highly illegal. Modifying a patented and copy-written piece of software is asking for a multi-million dollar lawsuit.

The program that’s able to be downloaded from Zoom cannot hack host computers. I know the software very well. To even claim it is preposterous. In the business world, we record each meeting so that we can make it available to a larger audience, or those who couldn’t attend. But the software cannot perform outside its parameters.

Nomex didn’t bring up the child molestation, i did. I’m not really sure what you are protesting since you readily acknowledge the information is basically correct.

the point is, if Watchtower cannot be relied upon to properly adjudicate the big things it certainly can’t be relied upon for the small things. The point is speculative- to wit: would the elders/MSs monitor JWs conversations for verboten if they had that capability? Should they?

 

[BillyRay]

Nomex didn’t bring up the child molestation, i did. I’m not really sure what you are protesting since you readily acknowledge the information is basically correct.

the point is, if Watchtower cannot be relied upon to properly adjudicate the big things it certainly can’t be relied upon for the small things. The point is speculative- to wit: would the elders/MSs monitor JWs conversations for verboten if they had that capability? Should they?

Not sure if you read my addendum at the bottom of my post. I corrected the Nomex / Asadour misstatement.

To me, comparing the two situations are apples and oranges. But that’s why I typed YMMV.

 

[יהוה_saves]

Not sure if you read my addendum at the bottom of my post. I corrected the Nomex / Asadour misstatement.

To me, comparing the two situations are apples and oranges. But that’s why I typed YMMV.

no i didn’t see that. I do now. (-:

the point is- Watchtower flouts the rules, bends the truth, exploits the loophole, plays the semantics game, muddies the water, call it theocratic warfare, in Islam it’s called “taqqiya”-whatever is in the best interest of organization, the organization is above all else because the organization is the profit center, it’s the be-all-end-all for the eight men running it. JWs be damned.

 

[MuleJule]

I’m no expert, but I have been attending zoom meetings and hosting zoom Bible studies for a couple years now. The host can mute anyone (or unmute anyone with permission). My brother who was an elder has frequently been host and co-host of congregation meetings and he would definitely be aware of any spy situations. He is very suspicious and totally subscribes to most conspiracy theories about the govt spying on everything we say and do (which they definitely are), but I don’t think Wt really cares what random publishers are discussing in breakout rooms. They have bigger fish to fry.

 

[Sarah]

Nomex didn’t bring up the child molestation, i did. I’m not really sure what you are protesting since you readily acknowledge the information is basically correct.

the point is, if Watchtower cannot be relied upon to properly adjudicate the big things it certainly can’t be relied upon for the small things. The point is speculative- to wit: would the elders/MSs monitor JWs conversations for verboten if they had that capability? Should they?

I think that there is a genuine worry through with breakout rooms I believe they use them on the field service? Anyone who wants to groom a young person online has a perfect way with these breakout room, working with a young person on the field service 😞