Deaf News: Zoom to offer free automatic captions to all users by autumn 2021

The video conferencing app Zoom has announced that it plans to make automatic captions free and available to all users by the autumn.

The AI captioning service was previously restricted to paid accounts only, placing it behind rivals such as Microsoft Teams and Google Meet.

In a blog post, Product Marketing Manager Jen Hill said: “To help free account holders who require Live Transcription, starting today and up until the feature’s broader release, we will also be offering automatic closed captioning to meeting hosts who need accommodation upon request.”

The announcement also comes after two deaf Americans filed a class action lawsuit against Zoom over the issue in December.

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Americans living with disabilities are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 and are therefore recommended to shelter in place throughout the duration of the pandemic. This underscores the importance of access to online services, such as Defendant’s [Zoom’s] video conferencing platform, for this especially vulnerable population.

“For many disabled individuals, they are relying on Defendant’s video services for contact with friends and family – a service that is free for those who can hear, but requires a surcharge for the hearing-impaired,” the document reads.

Users who wish to access automatic captions are asked to sign up using an online form, when they will then receive a confirmation email containing more information.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is a mildly deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He wears bilateral hearing aids and can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.