Zoom to add automatic closed captioning

Video conferencing service Zoom announced on Wednesday that it will begin rolling out automatic closed captioning this fall in an effort to make the platform more accessible.

“As part of our commitment to connecting users across the world, we are focused on continually enhancing our features to provide a platform that is accessible to all of the diverse communities we serve,” Zoom product marketing manager Jen Hill wrote in a blog post about the move.

The new service, which is named “Live Transcription,” will allow all users to view closed captioning in real-time. Zoom previously provided closed captioning, keyboard accessibility, as well as interpreter video and screen reader support, as part of a range of accessibility settings.

Hearing health advocates had criticized the platform last year for not including closed captioning services in its free plan and charging people who required the service $200 a month, according to NPR.

Zoom has stated that with its new rollout, users will be able to request the automatic transcription service ahead of meetings through an online request form before the service is made available to all users in the fall, according to the blog post.