Posted by Brendon LynchChief Privacy Officer, Microsoft
Today, I’m happy to share a new Microsoft publication, Building Global Trust Online: Policy Perspectives on Privacy, Safety and Security. It’s intended as a starting point for discussions with policymakers on these important and sometimes difficult issues and also provides good insights into Microsoft’s perspective on key issues. Building Global Trust Online relies on extensive work and ongoing research by Microsoft’s internal teams as well as consultation with external subject-matter experts.
Within Building Global Trust Online, you’ll find overviews of key issues; a summary of Microsoft’s response to these issues, which includes products, services and global collaborations; and a list of helpful resources and links for further reading and support.
Posted by David HowardCorporate Vice President & Deputy General Counsel
Last Friday afternoon, I learned that a batch of court documents had been unsealed and had revealed one particularly striking development: the United States Department of Justice had rejected Google’s claim that Google Apps for Government, Google’s cloud-based suite for government customers, has been certified under the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA). Given the number of times that Google has touted this claim, this was no small development.
How did this all come about? Last year, the Department of the Interior selected Microsoft offerings for its new cloud-based email system. In October, Google responded by suing the Government. As a result, the work of engineers and IT professionals was replaced, at least temporarily, by filings by lawyers. This meant significant delay for the Department of the Interior, which was trying to save millions of dollars and upgrade the email services for its 88,000 employees. Google announced its lawsuit with a proclamation of support for “open competition.” It then touted the security benefits of Google Apps for Government. Google filed a motion for a preliminary injunction telling the court three times in a single document (see pages 18, 29, & 37), that Google Apps for Government is certified under FISMA.
Google has repeated this statement in many other places as well. Indeed, for several months and as recently as this morning, Google’s website states, “Google Apps for Government – now with FISMA certification.” And as if that’s not sufficient, Google goes farther on another webpage and states "Google Apps for Government is certified and accredited under the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA)."
Read more...
Posted by Richard BoscovichSenior Attorney, Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit
Almost three weeks ago, I blogged about the Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit’s takedown of the Rustock botnet in an action dubbed “Operation b107.”
The takedown has thus far proven to be very successful and, since that time, we’ve worked every day to keep Rustock down, and begin the process of undoing the damage that it has caused. Yesterday afternoon, we returned to the court for a hearing where those accused of operating the Rustock botnet could answer to the allegations, and dispute the need for the temporary restraining order.
As we expected, they did not appear.
Posted by Jeff MeisnerEditor, Microsoft on the Issues Blog
This year, Microsoft hosted the Public Sector Leaders Forum (PSLF) in Washington, D.C. for government officials, academic leaders and Microsoft executives from across the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean to discuss how information technology re-invigorates economies, transforms educational opportunities and creates new and better paying jobs.
Brad Smith, Microsoft’s general counsel and senior vice president of Legal and Corporate Affairs, delivered the keynote address and touched on how Microsoft supports Latin American and Caribbean countries’ efforts to serve their communities through innovation and technology.
Posted by Horacio GutierrezCorporate Vice President & Deputy General Counsel
Reform of the U.S. patent system continues to make significant strides, with the introduction of the “America Invents Act of 2011” (HR 1249) by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX).