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Constructive Disruption Can Drive Social Change
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Posted by Akhtar Badshah
Senior Director, Community Affairs
The technology scene today is distinguished by the convergence of device connectivity, software innovation and cloud-based services, which enable people and organizations to access information, communicate and collaborate in more powerful ways. But how can these technologies be used by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and nonprofits to benefit the most vulnerable people in society? Microsoft has published a new whitepaper, Unleashing Technology to Advance Social and Economic Development, which takes an in-depth look at this question.
Our whitepaper notes that many nonprofits have already embraced technology to improve their productivity and ease their constant struggle to do more with less. But today’s technologies have potential to do much more – the potential for “constructive disruption” that enables nonprofits to achieve dramatically greater impact through new business and service models.
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Public Service Ads Alert Bing Users to Online Scams
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Posted by Tim Cranton
Associate General Counsel
Two weeks ago you heard from me about Microsoft’s enforcement efforts to curb malvertising; today I want to tell you about another approach we are taking to help protect consumers online.
Along with using the legal system to help stop online criminals and fraud, my team does a lot of work with other groups at Microsoft and with public and private organizations around the world developing novel ways to actively prevent and disrupt online threats. In the realm of Internet advertising, we’re not only working to promote the safety and integrity of the online ad platform, we’re using that ad platform to directly fight fraud more generally across the Web.
Microsoft – in conjunction with the Federal Trade Commission, the United States Postal Inspection Service and Western Union – today launched a series of online public service announcements within our Bing search engine to remind consumers to be alert for common online financial scams. When consumers search using keywords that could expose them to credit repair, mortgage foreclosure, or fake lottery scams, the sponsored ad results in Bing will include educational information to help consumers protect themselves.
Here’s an example of how it will look:
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Hats off to Congressman Boucher
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Posted by Frank Torres
Director, Consumer Affairs
After years of vigorous debate, it looks like we are close to seeing the introduction of comprehensive federal legislation establishing privacy protections for Internet users.
The framework set out by Virginia Congressman Rick Boucher in an editorial today in The Hill shows leadership in an area that is vitally important to consumers.
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and General Counsel Brad Smith voiced Microsoft’s support for a federal privacy bill more than three years ago. For our part, Microsoft stands by that commitment. We hope this Congress will join Rep. Boucher and support his legislation.
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Dublin Data Centre Energizes Microsoft’s Ties to Europe
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Posted by John Vassallo
Vice President, EU Affairs
I am very excited about an event today that marks an important milestone for Microsoft in Europe: The opening of our advanced new data centre in Dublin. As Microsoft’s first large scale data centre outside the United States, this facility is a vibrant sign of our commitment to provide the next-generation computing infrastructure that will power an incredible array of software services ‘in the cloud’ in Europe, for Europeans.
I am convinced that our European customers will soon find many novel ways to leverage the speed, flexibility and bandwidth provided by the Dublin data centre and the cloud computing services it supports to transform their businesses. Europe will benefit from the new wave of innovation and new business efficiencies this will bring about.
The data centre will also enable governments to reduce IT costs while improving citizen access to government services, which in turn will make the process of governance more transparent, efficient and inclusive.
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Making an Education Count Once School is Over
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Posted by Pamela Passman
Corporate Vice President
While there is broad consensus that education is critical for social and economic development, relatively little attention is given to the issue of ensuring that education has a tangible impact on students’ lives once they leave school. This is particularly true in developing countries.
The unfortunate reality is that the hard work and resources invested in providing a great education are often lost when disadvantaged students finish high school but continue living in impoverished conditions. A high school diploma does not guarantee a job. In Kenya, high school graduates who qualify for the government’s university loan program typically must wait 22 months for a place in university. During this time, students often do not have an opportunity to join the workforce and many never resume their studies.
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Unlicensed Spectrum a Boon to the Economy
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Posted by Anoop Gupta
Corporate Vice President, Technology Policy & Strategy
As consumers increasingly ask for mobile access to content and information wherever they are, sensible public policy regarding the allocation and efficient use of wireless spectrum is critical to ensuring that people can stay connected – whether they’re sitting in a coffee shop, riding in a car, or walking down the street. The huge importance of spectrum policy was highlighted at a workshop on the topic that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) held in Washington, DC, on September 17 as part of its effort to develop a National Broadband Plan.
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White House Support for Innovation Will Drive Economic Recovery
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Posted by Pamela Passman
Corporate Vice President, Global Corporate Affairs
The way out of our nation’s current economic difficulties is through innovation fostered by investments in education, technical job skills training, and science and technology infrastructure. That’s what Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in February at the House Democratic Caucus retreat. Today we are very happy to see President Obama unveil his new national innovation agenda – a plan that will create jobs and steer our economy back toward lasting growth.
President Obama’s innovation plan commits the nation to several important strategies that Microsoft wholeheartedly supports: investing in the nation’s future workforce by reemphasizing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, and focusing R&D on national priorities such as health, broadband and energy. We also support the administration’s decision to appoint the first federal Chief Information Officer and Chief Technology Officer to coordinate the government’s research, technology, and innovation policies.
President Obama’s focus on innovation strikes home for Microsoft, as we invest over $9 billion each year in R&D. We’ve long believed that government investments in STEM education pay huge social and economic dividends in the form of young minds eager to innovate, and we’ve recognized that companies such as Microsoft have a vital role to play in this process, which is why we’ve devoted hundreds of millions of dollars to improving education through Partners in Learning. It’s also why we launched Microsoft DreamSpark, which provides U.S. students with free, professional software development tools to help them gain the skills they will use to contribute to our nation’s innovation capacity. By promoting a well-rounded education for young people, the federal government and partner companies like Microsoft are making the soundest financial decision: investing in the future of American ingenuity.
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Microsoft’s Board Adopts New “Say-on-Pay” Policy
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Posted by Brad Smith
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
and John Seethoff
Vice President and Deputy General Counsel
We’ve blogged in the past about Microsoft’s commitment to strong corporate governance, and our belief in the need for transparent policies that enhance public and investor trust in large companies like our own.
Today, our Board of Directors put Microsoft’s philosophy into practice by adopting a new “Say-on-Pay” policy that enables our shareholders to weigh-in on our executive compensation practices.
Under the policy adopted by the Board today, Microsoft shareholders will be able to cast a non-binding, advisory vote every three years on the compensation programs for our senior executive officers. The first vote will take place at our annual shareholders’ meeting later this year on November 19.
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Government Requirements for a Secure Cloud
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Posted by Ron Markezich
Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Online Services
This week, U.S. Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra unveiled the federal government’s vision for cloud computing, beginning with Apps.gov, an online marketplace that will enable federal agencies to find and purchase cloud-based IT services. This is a smart move by the government to streamline procurement for new cloud-based solutions and lower costs. In response, industry vendors are announcing future “dedicated” cloud services designed to meet the government’s security and privacy standards.
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Bad Ad: Going After The Malvertising Threat
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Posted by Tim Cranton
Associate General Counsel
Today, Microsoft filed five civil lawsuits, the first of their kind against a nasty phenomenon known as malvertising. That’s the industry term for malicious online advertising. Microsoft works with the other leading providers of online ad platforms to mitigate the threat posed by malvertising, but we’re now taking that effort a step further.
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