Some Zoom users add “do not record me” to their display name

In short: More people are pushing back on always-on recording by clearly signaling they do not want calls transcribed or recorded.

What's going on

Some Zoom users are changing their on-screen display names to include a message like “I do not consent to transcribing or recording.” TechCrunch highlighted one example from investor Jeremy Levine, who now appears on Zoom with that exact phrase added to his name.

The backdrop is the growing use of AI transcription apps, which automatically turn speech into written text (like having a fast typist in the room). These tools are being used in work meetings and beyond. TechCrunch also points to reporting from The Wall Street Journal that describes people increasingly assuming that calls with founders or colleagues will be recorded, sometimes before anyone even asks.

The same reporting includes an example that goes outside work. One founder told the Journal she records most first dates using an app called Granola, then uses another AI tool to review the transcript and reflect on the conversation.

What to watch

This trend raises basic questions about consent and comfort. Some people see constant recording as a way to avoid forgetting details. Others say it can shut down natural conversation, since people speak differently when they feel they are “on the record” (like a microphone is always live). Another open question is what happens when there is so much audio and text saved that no one has time to review it, turning it into a pile of recordings that is rarely used.

Source: TechCrunch AI