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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Zoom ettiquiete

134 replies

fuckinghellthisshit · 08/04/2020 11:53

I do a few hours of maths tuition a week as a volunteer working with looked after children. Since lockdown I have been doing this via Zoom.

One of the foster carers has been recording the sessions and told me this was to share with her own children which I wasn't keen on but didn't object to. I have now found out that her sister who runs a big scale tutoring business is sending these videos out as part of her weekly work pack for which she charges £30 (they get a class lesson as well).

AIBU to think this is not ok and they should have asked? When I questioned her I was told 'we're all in the same boat and need to help each other'. I have had to shut my business and have no income at present so I whilst I happy to volunteer and help vulnerable students I do not want to be creating content for a private business to use for free. AIBU?

OP posts:
Original poster
fuckinghellthisshit · 08/04/2020 13:03

Thanks everyone. I realise I sound like a pushover - I am not but this strange situation is making me a bit mad!
I really appreciate your advice and honesty. I am going to call her and be very clear.

OP posts:
Petiolaris · 08/04/2020 13:06

Report the foster parent to the local authority and tell them you sadly won’t be doing any more online tutoring due to her behaviour, you will resume face to face lessons when possible.

Send a cease and desist letter to the foster parent and her sister, telling them to delete all recordings of you due to GDPR and to stop distributing your copyrighted materials otherwise you’ll take further action.

LonginesPrime · 08/04/2020 13:06

Absolutely not ok.

Report the sister (or her company) and the foster carer to the ICO for breach of GDPR.

And send a 'letter before action' (i.e. warning that you will sue if the behaviour continues) to her sister/company setting out what's happened and demanding that she destroy all copies of your work and cease and desist from exploiting them in any way - you can google what needs to go in it or speak to Citizens' Advice or a lawyer.

I would also report to any organisations involved in your volunteering and to social services (because the foster carer is abusing her position for financial gain).

Personally, I wouldn't be comfortable doing any more lessons under those circumstances but appreciate that it's the kids who suffer if you go down that road.

Soapytoad · 08/04/2020 13:08

That’s absolutely outrageous! What a cheeky cowbag.

Keeva2017 · 08/04/2020 13:14

Report her to the social worker. She is making money indirectly from the children in her care - ie, using their free tuition.

I would’ve absolutely livid and have doubts about her as a carer if she views this money making scheme as appropriate (I know it’s her sister but likely she’s getting something out of supplying the videos).

Bouledeneige · 08/04/2020 13:16

They are stealing your intellectual property. I would stop tutoring the family and send a cease and desist letter telling them you will take legal action if they don't stop. You're not allowed to film movies at the cinema for precisely that reason. If they had approached you and asked permission in return for a fee that would have been a different matter.

icelollycraving · 08/04/2020 13:17

Outrageous, cease and desist letter. I would also inform whoever she reports in to.

cmt1375 · 08/04/2020 13:22

You can alter the zoom settings to stop participants recording the session via zoom, although you can't stop them recording it using alternative software, it might stop the recordings looking so professional.

MissFlite · 08/04/2020 13:25

Beyond cheeky. Disable recording in the settings to begin with.

Then tell her what you think of her!

fascinated · 08/04/2020 13:27

Don’t phone. Text or email or messager or sth. Much easier to be firm that way and you will have proof.

goldenorbspider · 08/04/2020 13:29

I can't believe the fuckery

Esspee · 08/04/2020 13:33

Threaten to sue. Bloody cheek!

MagisCapulus · 08/04/2020 13:38

bloody hell! So many things wrong with this!

BlingLoving · 08/04/2020 13:41

OP. Good luck. Unfortunately, I suspect the foster parent and her sister will absolutely not understand why their behaviour is not okay. In my experience, some people have absolutely no idea and honestly cannot understand why tyou might be upset as "it doesn't affect you".

Billben · 08/04/2020 13:42

'we're all in the same boat and need to help each other

The cheeky bitch. I would be texting/emailing or posting ‘cos I have a feeling she’ll just talk over you on the phone. That way you’ll have evidence to show the social workers. It’s jaw dropping that she thinks what they are doing is perfectly acceptable.

CoraPirbright · 08/04/2020 13:43

I am utterly gobsmacked and outraged on your behalf. Fucking thieves!!! What disgusting behaviour!

Sparklesocks · 08/04/2020 13:44

What a cheeky cheeky bitch!! Outrageous

CoraPirbright · 08/04/2020 13:45

we're all in the same boat and need to help each other

Er no, you have lied, stolen, cheated and profiteered.

Figgygal · 08/04/2020 13:45

What a cheeky pair the woman and the foster mum are
Good to see 100% Yanbu

SunshineCake · 08/04/2020 13:46

This has the be one of the worst examples of stealing and entitlement I have read on here.

YouokHun · 08/04/2020 13:54

That’s awful. I deliver CBT by zoom and I get clients to sign something to say no recording and comply with the same. It’s a breach of privacy. Settings can be adjusted but it’s something that needs clarifying upfront. Obviously my clients don’t want to share the contents of therapy so it’s rather different but the issue of GDPR and laws around surreptitious recording apply. In your position I would write by registered letter to her formally setting out what the breaches are and what you expect from now on including retrieval and deletion of all shares so far (might not happen but important to state what you expect). I’d report her to her professional organisation and/or bosses. If you have a website I’d put a very specific message at the top about remote tutoring at this time and what the rules are.

Thinkingabout1t · 08/04/2020 13:55

I would contact her and say you have contacted a solicitor and if she doesn’t stop sharing these videos you will take the matter further.

Perhaps contact a solicitor anyway? The sister who runs a business must be fully aware of the law. Shameful that some CFs take advantage of a crisis.

malmi · 08/04/2020 13:55

Anyone can record a zoom meeting if they know what they're doing. You may be able to disable the built-in recording feature but there are other ways to record it .

You could use the name of the rogue tuturing company as often as possible in your sessions and mention how they're stealing your content :)

Beautiful3 · 08/04/2020 13:59

I would tell the person recording it to stop. Perhaps put it in the middle of your zoom piece, "this piece is the property of x, please do not record this and sell to others".

bevelino · 08/04/2020 14:01

Zoom by default only allows the organiser to record and OP you need to amend your settings so that you are not granting permission to record.