Google Meet: update and expand some features for users

What’s changing 

Google is expanding its meeting moderation controls in Google Meet with several highly requested features. You will now be able to:

• Assign up to 25 co-hosts to each meeting, allowing them to access and use host controls.
• Use safety features to limit who can share their screen, send chat messages, mute all users, and end meetings
• Use the “Quick access” settings to easily control who needs to request access to meetings.

Previously, these safety features were only available to our customers Google Workspace for Education. These controls will now be available to all Google Meet users on desktop and mobile. See below for more information and availability.

Who’s impacted

Admins and end users

Why it’s important

Google hopes these expanded controls make it easier for users to maintain productive, secure meetings and help prevent potential disruptions. Additionally, authorized co-hosts can handle responsibilities such as — muting participants, launching polls, managing Q&As — giving you more time to focus on hosting Lead discussions and guide attendees through presentations.

Additional details

New controls for meeting organizers, which can be extended to co-hosts

In Google Meet settings, select “Host Control” and make sure the “Host Management” option is ON. When enabled, the server can now:

• Limit who can share their screen,
• Limit who can send chat messages,
• Mute them all with one click,
• End of meeting for all,
• Control who can join meetings and how they can join with the “Quick access” setting. Note: This feature is only available for specific Workspace versions – see below for more information.

For applicable Workspace versions (see more below), Meeting organizers can share hosting privileges with other meeting participants — up to 25 people per meeting — by give them control over the server in the People panel.

Fast access control

Google has expanded “quick access” controls for Meet to most Google Workspace Customers (see below for full availability). Express access control will be ON by default. When instant access is enabled, meeting participants from your domain can automatically join the meeting from mobile or desktop devices and by dialing in.

When quick access is locked: 

• The person who chairs the meeting must attend the meeting first.
• Only invited participants can join without a request – all other attendees and dial-ins must request to join the meeting.
• No anonymous users can join the meeting.
• Only the meeting host can dial out of the meeting.

Visit the Help Center to learn more about controlling access to video meetings with quick access controls.

In the coming weeks, we will introduce a new setting in the admin console that will control Server Management. We will provide an update here on the Workspace Update Blog when that setting becomes available.

Update the “People” dashboard

Additionally, Google has added the ability to search for meeting participants. This will allow you to quickly navigate to a specific user to mute them, remove them from the call, or assign server privileges. The updated People Dashboard will be available on web and mobile.

If you have designated co-hosts in your meeting, they will be designated as such by a privacy shield icon.

Getting started

• Admins: In the coming weeks, Google will introduce a setting that controls whether the Host Management setting is enabled or disabled by default.
• End users: not much affected

Rollout pace

Web, Android and iOS 

• Rapid and scheduled release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting August 16, 2021

Availability

Censorship and Safety Controls

• Available for Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Education Standard, Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Frontline and Nonprofits as well as G Suite Basic and Guest Enterprise goods
• Also available to users with personal Google Accounts

Settings for Quick Access:

• Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers
• Not available for Google Workspace Individual customers or users with personal Google Accounts

Ability to add co-hosts

• Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Business Standard, Business Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, and Upgraded Teaching and Learning customers
• Does not apply to Google Workspace Business Starter, Frontline and Nonprofits as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers

Source: Gimasys