The video equipment in our meeting rooms in office automatically count, zoom in on everyone and cut out a frame so you can see each individual. Great for introverts.
I always put Magic Tape™ over my camera. When you turn it on you get a blurry image as if you were looking through a frosted window. You can make a show of wiping it and tell them that the lense must be damaged. Worst case scenario you get shipped a webcam or a new laptop. Unlikely though. Just remember to remove the tape before returning the computer.
Suit psychology is so different from tech workers. they don't understand why tech workers don't want to live stream their private working area and tech workers don't understand why suits are obsessed with looking at people in meetings
When dealing in non technical meetings, visual communication is important in establishing rapport and as an OOB communication channel. And in their heads, suits are never in a technical meeting, even when they are in one.
The only good part of calls is when someone's pet gets into frame. It's usually cats bc they can jump into desks, but sometimes someone will pick their dog up for us.
Because if my camera is on they can see that I'm getting actual work done instead of listening to people that can barely do their job run their mouths to make sure the boss notices they exist.
I got a petty good webcam for about $20 a while back. Set it up higher than my head and sit some good 30-40 cm (~15 American thumbs) from it. The image is just SO much better than the crappy integrated laptop webcam, it’s not even a comparison.
When I got a MacBook from work, I went and bought a webcam as well, and chose a 'just adequate ' 720p webcam that served the purpose without showing every pore on my face in super high resolution. It was just adequate, and I was very happy.