Communication platform Zoom has reached an agreement in a class-action lawsuit over how it handled user data following accusations the company violated users’ privacy rights by sharing personal information with Facebook, Google and LinkedIn, and allowed hackers to disrupt Zoom meetings in a practice known as “Zoombombing.”

The San Jose-based company agreed to pay $85 million, according to documents detailing the proposed settlement filed in U.S. District Court in Northern California. Zoom will also bolster its security practices to “improve meeting security, bolster privacy disclosures, and safeguard consumer data.”

Subscribers between March 30, 2016, and the date of the settlement in the proposed class-action lawsuit would be eligible for 15% refunds on their paid account or $25, whichever is higher. Those who used the free version, without a Zoom subscription, could receive up to $15.

“The privacy and security of our users are top priorities for Zoom, and we take seriously the trust our users place in us,” Zoom said in a statement Sunday, reported by CNBC.

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In 2022, Georgia Power projected its winter peak electricity demand would grow by about 400 megawatts by 2031. Since then, Georgia has experienced a boom of data centers, which require a large load of electricty to run, and Georgia Power's recent forecast shows peak demand growing by 20 times the 400-megawatt estimate from just three years ago. (Illustration by Philip Robibero/AJC)

Credit: Illustration: Philip Robibero / AJC