Heightened security due to "Zoom bombers"

[Quantum Computation in Isolation]

Hello,

In the past week or so, I have seen that there has been a heightened amount of "Zoom bombers" at QCI/QFI seminars. Usually they are "harmless", in the sense that they play a loud noise or two and then leave or I push them to the waiting room. Recently, however, they have become more aggressive and offensive, and I will no longer stand for this. The QCI/QFI seminars show respect and acceptance to all people from every race, gender, orientation, and religion, and if heightened security is needed to uphold these principles, then so be it.

From now on, I will require everyone who joins to use their full name on Zoom. If you use your full name and I am positive I recognize you, I will let you in. Once you are let in, please send me a direct message if you can, verifying it is indeed you. 

If you do use your full name and I do not recognize you, I will do a quick Google search. If I see you are a professor/grad student somewhere, I will let you in and, once again, please verify that you are who you say you are with a direct message. 

If I cannot find out who you are, or you do not use your full name, you will not be admitted beyond the waiting room. You are welcome to email me at hea...@bc.edu and explain who you are, and then I will let you in. However, no full name & no email, then no admittance. 

If the Zoom bombing doesn't stop with these tactics, all future seminars that I organize online will be made private. A new Zoom link will have to be made, I will make a new Google group which is by invitation only, and only share the link with this private Google group. However, I'm hoping that these heightened security measures will deal with the issue at hand.

It is unfortunate that I have to do this. Science and scientific research should be open to all, but I will not stand for this "Zoom bombing". It stops today. 

Sincerely,
Joshuah