Posted by Brad SmithGeneral Counsel & Executive Vice President, Legal & Corporate Affairs, Microsoft
This week, I had the opportunity to speak in Uruguay at the 34th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners. This conference brings together leading authorities on privacy from more than 50 countries, including many of the key government officials and regulators responsible for privacy policies around the world. It provides a great opportunity to engage in a dialogue about one of the most important topics facing our industry today. The theme of the conference was “Privacy and Technology in Balance,” a theme that describes well both the challenge we face and how we think about the goal.
In my remarks, I focused on a few key questions. First, does privacy still matter? And second, how has technology changed the nature of privacy? I also talked about the way we all need to come together – the technology industry, advertisers, government, publishers and others – to shape a thoughtful and consistent approach to privacy that respects the needs and expectations of consumers while balancing the many other benefits that today’s technology and use of data can provide.
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Posted by Paul MitchellSenior Director, Technology Policy Group, Microsoft
Earlier this year, the Singapore White Spaces Pilot Group (SWSPG) launched a significant pilot of wireless broadband using TV White Spaces (TVWS). As part of the momentum of this pilot, the SWSPG convened a one day workshop in Singapore on Oct. 10 that brought together technology and business leaders from around the world to discuss recent progress deploying wireless broadband solutions using TV White Spaces. While participants came from around the world and from across the public and private sectors, attendance and interest from Singapore and the Asia Pacific region were especially encouraging. I was fortunate enough to attend the event, and was truly impressed with the progress and creativity demonstrated by the pilot participants in developing the potential surrounding TV White Spaces.
It was clear that Singapore in particular understands the importance of and correlation between the digital infrastructure and economic growth, and is determined to fully leverage ICT technologies to turn Singapore into a global leading Smart City and a data hub for the region’s digital economy.
Posted by Anthony SalcitoVice President, Worldwide Education, Microsoft
Tomorrow, our partner UNESCO celebrates World Teachers Day, when thousands of communities around the globe honor the women and men who selflessly (and for little material reward) hold our collective future in their hands. It’s a lot to ask, but we trust teachers to help shape our children into productive, responsible citizens for the future. And without the innovative teachers who are redefining education for the 21st century, that future would be very uncertain indeed.
As the joint impacts of rapidly advancing technology and environmental change continue to remake the global economy, we must build a workforce to support it. We know that well more than 50 percent of today’s jobs require some technology skills, and that percentage is expected to rise to nearly 80 percent in the next decade. We also know that technology alone does not improve student outcomes.
Editor’s Note: This post is part of a monthly series from Microsoft’s Citizenship team that appears on the second Wednesday of every month. Pulse on Citizenship provides insight and commentary on topics and trends in corporate citizenship.
Posted by Lori HarnickGeneral Manager, Citizenship & Public Affairs, Microsoft
Today, we are releasing our annual Citizenship Report, which provides an overview of our citizenship work over the past fiscal year, from July 2011 to June 2012. This is the third year in a row that we have released the Citizenship Report at the same time as our annual financial report. Together, these two milestones give our shareholders, customers, employees and many community partners a full view of Microsoft’s financial and non-financial performance across all business operations.
The Citizenship Report, in particular, outlines Microsoft’s citizenship goals, progress and next steps in our responsible work practices and service to communities as part of our company commitment to making a real impact for a better tomorrow everywhere we do business.
Posted by Jacqueline BeauchereDirector, Trustworthy Computing Communications, Microsoft
Lottery scams, advance-fee fraud, phishing attacks and fake anti-virus alerts. These are just a few ways criminals are attempting to gain access to your personal information to steal money, and impersonate you or hijack your good name. On average, adults in the U.S. have been exposed to eight different types of online scams, according to a new Microsoft survey. Learn to better protect yourself and fight back during National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM).