The Zoom hack that says, 'Don't record me' | TechCrunch
SearchSubmit
Site Search Toggle
Mega Menu Toggle
Topics
Latest
AI
Amazon
Apps
Biotech & Health
Climate
Cloud Computing
Commerce
Crypto
Enterprise
EVs
Fintech
Fundraising
Gadgets
Gaming
Government & Policy
Hardware
Layoffs
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
Privacy
Robotics
Security
Social
Space
Startups
TikTok
Transportation
Venture
More from TechCrunch
Staff
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Newsletters
Podcasts
Videos
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
Contact Us
In Brief
Posted:
2:20 PM PDT · July 17, 2026
Image Credits: Ysr Dora (opens in a new window) / Getty Images
Connie Loizos
The Zoom hack that says, ‘Don’t record me’
VC Jeremy Levine has a wry solution to something that routinely annoys him, according to a new Wall Street Journal article on the rise of AI transcription apps. On Zoom, he is no longer "Jeremy Levine" but instead "Jeremy Levine I do not consent to transcribing or recording."
It may sound petty or brilliant, depending on your point of view, but what’s clear is that always-on recording is becoming ubiquitous, thanks to a growing crop of AI note-taking apps and devices, many of which we’ve covered here at TechCrunch (we’ve even ranked some).
VC Eric Bahn tells the outlet he now automatically assumes his meetings with founders will be recorded, even before he sees a phone slide across a conference table. One founder tells the WSJ she records most of her first dates with the Granola app, then feeds the transcript to Claude afterward to see if she could be more "engaging or empathetic," while also assessing who did most of the talking. (Dating in San Francisco is rough.)
Levine calls the whole trend "socially unacceptable behavior" that can completely kill spontaneous conversations. Others in the piece note it’s a legal minefield.
But there’s another wrinkle: if every meeting, watercooler conversation, and romantic outing gets transcribed and summarized, who’s actually reading any of it? At what point does this audio landfill of every conversation stop being useful and just become another recording no one has time to play back?
Topics
AI, Security, TC, zoom
November 4
Boston
Last chance to save up to $190 on TechCrunch Founder Summit. Join 1,000+ founders and VCs at all stages for real-world scaling insights and connections that move the needle.
Savings end June 26, 11:59 p.m. PT .
REGISTER NOW
Newsletters
See More
Subscribe for the industry’s biggest tech news
TechCrunch Daily News
Every weekday and Sunday, you can get the best of TechCrunch’s coverage.
TechCrunch Mobility
TechCrunch Mobility is your destination for transportation news and insight.
Startups Weekly
Startups are the core of TechCrunch, so get our best coverage delivered weekly.
StrictlyVC
Provides movers and shakers with the info they need to start their day.
No newsletters selected.
Subscribe
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice.
Related
Venture
Neil Rimer thinks the AI money is coming back out
Connie Loizos
7 hours ago
Hardware
Vertu wants executives to pay $6,880 for an AI agent — here’s how it actually performs
Jagmeet Singh
13 hours ago
Gaming
Roblox launches an AI-powered game-creation feature in its mobile app
Lauren Forristal
2 days ago
Latest in AI
Venture
Neil Rimer thinks the AI money is coming back out
Connie Loizos
7 hours ago
Hardware
Vertu wants executives to pay $6,880 for an AI agent — here’s how it actually performs
Jagmeet Singh
13 hours ago
Startups
Databricks hits $188B valuation, extending its run as AI’s favorite second act
Julie Bort
13 hours ago
© 2026 TechCrunch Media LLC.