Editor’s Note: This post is part of a monthly series from Microsoft called “The View from Washington State”. The View from Washington State provides insight and commentary on topics and trends of importance to technology, education, corporate citizenship and public policy in Washington State.
Posted by DeLee ShoemakerSenior Director of State Government Affairs, Microsoft
With more than 90 percent of the ballots now counted, the ads have stopped, the signs have been put away, and most of the dust has settled on Washington’s 2012 elections.
Democrats dominated the statewide races, with President Obama easily carrying Washington; Jay Inslee narrowly defeating Rob McKenna for Governor; incumbent Maria Cantwell winning re-election; Susan DelBene, Derek Kilmer and Denny Heck taking the three open Congressional seats; and Democratic candidates winning every other statewide race except Secretary of State.
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Editor’s Note: The following is a guest post from Ben Cohen, MBE, Founder and Chairman, Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation.
As a professional athlete and rugby World Cup champion, I thought I knew what my future would hold. My Uncle George had also been on a World Cup team, winning the football (soccer) honor for England in 1966. Sports would continue to define me, as it always had. So I thought.
Then, in early 2011, just after being honored as Player of the Year, I hung up my boots and retired for a cause, founding the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation. A lot of people around me thought I had lost my mind. Why this cause? Why now?
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 Steve LippmanDirector of Corporate Citizenship, Microsoft
You feel old when you realize that your career and the field you work in both started around the same time, at least when your field isn’t some brand-new offshoot of cyber-crypto-nano-technology. (I don’t know if that exists or not, but it certainly sounds cutting edge.)
That’s my case. I joined the staff of Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) whose mission is to work with business to create a just and sustainable world. It was shortly after the organization was founded, and the field of corporate social responsibility was beginning to emerge as a discipline distinct from business ethics, environment, health, safety and community affairs.
Posted by Jeff MeisnerEditor, Microsoft on the Issues
Yesterday, Microsoft Executive Vice President of Legal & Corporate Affairs Brad Smith was the featured keynote speaker at the Washington Council on International Trade Conference (WCIT) luncheon in Seattle. The conference, which was attended by more than 300 of the state’s business, government and community leaders, provided a forum to learn and discuss issues surrounding international trade policy. Through the lens of the technology industry, Brad gave his perspective on the steps needed to increase Washington’s international trade competitiveness.
Posted by Peter CullenChief Privacy Strategist, Microsoft
A privilege of working at Microsoft is being able to glimpse into the future of information technology and envision ways that society can reap the considerable benefits of Big Data— the collection, management and analysis of data on a massive scale. But this privilege also comes with responsibilities, including an obligation to help ensure strong information privacy protections. Getting this balance right is crucial not only for Microsoft and our peers, but also for policymakers, regulators, industry, educators, and, most importantly, individuals.
About two months ago, I wrote about a series of discussions that we convened to advance a global conversation aimed at generating shared ideas and new thinking in support of alternative approaches to privacy protection. Today, I am happy to share a summary report of these discussions, written by Fred Cate, Distinguished Professor and C. Ben Dutton Professor of Law, Maurer School of Law, Indiana University and Viktor Mayer-Schönberger, Professor of Internet Governance and Regulation, Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford.