Zoom can see when you use Google Meet, without listening in

Zoom has a feature that can see whether your microphone is in use in other apps, such as Google Meet.

It works by looking at the system's own log files: on Mac it uses Control Center, on Windows it uses the operating system's microphone protection. So Zoom is not listening in on the conversation itself, but it can see that the microphone is busy somewhere else.

For most individuals, this makes no difference in daily life: it does not change how you use Zoom or other video meeting programs.

For companies with strict requirements for data protection or confidentiality, however, it may be worth keeping an eye on how this kind of system access is used and documented.

You do not need to react now. Keep watch if Zoom or other providers start using this kind of information for anything other than showing a simple status: then it is time to ask questions about it.