robg
Full Member
Posts: 31
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Post by robg on Aug 5, 2020 17:58:10 GMT -5
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Post by jagvet on Aug 5, 2020 19:32:34 GMT -5
They would have to use something customized to protect all that PII in the vast SSA files. I can't see Zoom or Whatsapp.
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Post by Prrple on Aug 10, 2020 11:19:09 GMT -5
I've been in a zoom meeting where someone screen shared porn hub video. It was quite shocking. That happened early in the pandemic, before zoom upgraded its security settings.
There are settings to prevent what is described in this hearing. Turning off the ability to screen share is one. Mute all participants and only allow host to unmute is another. Same for video. If there are people attending who are watching, they should stay muted and with video off.
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Post by jagvet on Aug 10, 2020 23:49:56 GMT -5
The problem isn't just intruders into the video hearing. It is that these are gateways through DRAP into millions of SSA records. Unless SSA is convinced that the shield is absolute, they're not going to bother with video and take that kind of risk. Phone hearings work well.
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Post by nappyloxs on Aug 11, 2020 23:23:43 GMT -5
Friends and family tell me MS Teams is much better than Zoom. We are upgrading to Office 365 sometime soon, so that may be an option down the road.
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Post by Prrple on Aug 12, 2020 9:28:09 GMT -5
Technology is always a race to stay ahead of those with bad intentions. It would be surprising if SSA were an early adopter of any technology
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Post by cookie on Aug 20, 2020 20:36:28 GMT -5
Supposedly the path to at home video hearings has already started. The word (of unknown veracity) is that they are coming sooner than later and we will all be able to have a digital background of sorts to protect our privacy. The rollout is starting with certain pilots in the next month.
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Post by christina on Aug 20, 2020 21:39:14 GMT -5
The problem isn't just intruders into the video hearing. It is that these are gateways through DRAP into millions of SSA records. Unless SSA is convinced that the shield is absolute, they're not going to bother with video and take that kind of risk. Phone hearings work well. Agree that risk is not worth it |
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Post by christina on Aug 20, 2020 21:39:48 GMT -5
Supposedly the path to at home video hearings has already started. The word (of unknown veracity) is that they are coming sooner than later and we will all be able to have a digital background of sorts to protect our privacy. The rollout is starting with certain pilots in the next month. Oh wow |
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Post by recoveringalj on Aug 20, 2020 23:21:28 GMT -5
Other agencies have been using Zoom for Government and have been happier with it than the old VTC. If DoD (and other Federal agencies) can use it, SSA can figure it out too.
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Post by Loopstok on Aug 21, 2020 0:57:00 GMT -5
Supposedly the path to at home video hearings has already started. The word (of unknown veracity) is that they are coming sooner than later and we will all be able to have a digital background of sorts to protect our privacy. The rollout is starting with certain pilots in the next month. I applaud the move, if that's what's happening -- it's easier to direct proceedings if you have visual cues with the claimant and attorney. However, I question how this would actually work, what with so many claimant's below the poverty line and not necessarily having access to secure video connections from their homes or shelters. I would hope that the people designing the pilot aren't assuming that all claimants are sitting at home in their private studies with T3 land lines and high-end encryption software. |
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Post by cookie on Aug 21, 2020 6:39:46 GMT -5
I am also very curious how this is to work for claimants. It seems like the potential for due process violations is great. We cannot allow only those that have access to technology a video option. And viewing multiple people on a tiny smartphone screen doesn’t seem like a real answer.
But surely TPTB have considered all of the issues and have some workable solution...
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Post by jimmy224 on Aug 21, 2020 6:58:45 GMT -5
Phone hearings can have issues too, e.g, claimant driving down the road on their cell phone trying to do the phone hearing while driving
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Post by cookie on Aug 21, 2020 7:44:41 GMT -5
Phone hearings can have issues too, e.g, claimant driving down the road on their cell phone trying to do the phone hearing while driving They sure can, I have had that exact situation. But most everyone has equal access to a telephone. I think the concern for video, in addition to privacy, is that many of the poorest claimants won’t have access to the technology required for a video hearing. |
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Post by recoveringalj on Aug 21, 2020 8:23:15 GMT -5
I doubt the video hearings would be made mandatory for accessibility issues. But many claimants have smartphones with data connections and repped claimants could participate from their representatives’ offices. Just another tool in the toolbox.
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Post by nylawyer on Aug 21, 2020 13:05:55 GMT -5
Reserving judgement, but a but skeptical. I certainly have doubts about how secure this could possibly be, but that's a decision way above my head.
My bigger concern is that for way too many claimants, this is going to be done from their cell phone. Putting aside the fact that I don't see value in staring up someone's nostrils (as opposed to a phone hearing), I would anticipate significant tech issues. I've already had too many hearings that I have had to stop because the claimant's phone had a terrible connection, I can't imagine the data stream is going to be better. I forsee a lot of freezing and significant lags, not to mention claimants going to public areas where they can connect to wifi.
I hope they are going to test this before rolling it out and not just in the most favorable settings.
Having said that, I had heard it suggested that it might be reserved to claimants who appear at their attorney's offices, and that at least should go smoothly (but obviously encompasses a much smaller number of potential hearings).
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Post by christina on Aug 21, 2020 13:26:12 GMT -5
Other agencies have been using Zoom for Government and have been happier with it than the old VTC. If DoD (and other Federal agencies) can use it, SSA can figure it out too. Hmmm Interesting theory on last sentence |
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Post by marathon on Aug 21, 2020 18:02:08 GMT -5
I am also very curious how this is to work for claimants. It seems like the potential for due process violations is great. But surely TPTB have considered all of the issues and have some workable solution... I have been screaming about deaf and hard of hearing claimants and due process with telephone hearings for the last 6 months. The answer was always TTY and I kept saying that is not feasible for everyone, up to and including homeless populations. Enter the guidance we received on the subject this week. |
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Post by places2go on Aug 21, 2020 21:53:19 GMT -5
Having said that, I had heard it suggested that it might be reserved to claimants who appear at their attorney's offices, and that at least should go smoothly (but obviously encompasses a much smaller number of potential hearings). I was wondering if they would use this to limit how many people come into the office. Repped go to the rep's office, those with tech at home can appear from home, and those without the techonology go to the hearing office or a remote site, and the ALJ could appear from home. ALJs could go in only for video opt outs, which could be spaced out, rather than full days of in person. The ALJ could even do some by video from their office, rather than in person, if there was no video opt out. This is assuming we reach a point that we are in the office and have some face to face time allowed. I have no idea when that will be though. |
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Post by icemaster on Aug 22, 2020 8:11:26 GMT -5
I am just a lowly grunt on the front line but I see different options for claimants in different ways to accommodate a video hearing. Just thinking out loud.
I don't know how reps would do it now but there is nothing wrong with a rep going TO the claimant with a tablet on a stand in order to do a hearing. OR, using their smart phone with the claimant next to them and using their tablet or lap top to do the hearing. I would be surprised if you start finding more homeless shelters configuring locations to do videos (As a rep, I was surprised homeless shelters had computer kiosks for people to surf the web and look for jobs).
I'm sure there are plenty of people up the food chain of the agency who are wrestling or attacking any of the privacy issues, security issues and accessibility issues. But, in my humble UNINFORMED opinion, the agency will probably be at the forefront of pushing this particular population into this (video hearings) direction.
Again, just my two cents from a lowly grunt. lol
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