US EditionMicrosoft Letting Employees Raise Concerns About Products After Middle East Controversy
Microsoft introduced a Trusted Technology Review option for its 200,000 employees after concerns over technology use in conflict zones and related protests.
- On Wednesday, Microsoft President Brad Smith said the Microsoft Integrity Portal added a Trusted Technology Review option for its 200,000 employees to raise technology concerns.
- Protests on Microsoft’s Redmond campus earlier this year led to No Azure for Apartheid disrupting events after The Guardian and others reported Unit 8200 used Azure for surveillance data.
- Microsoft launched two investigations earlier this year and in mid-August, then corroborated some reporting and cut specific Azure cloud services to Unit 8200 for terms violations.
- Brad Smith, Microsoft president, emphasized company policy by writing, "Our standard non-retaliation policy applies, and you can raise concerns anonymously," and said the firm is "working to strengthen our existing pre-contract review process for evaluating engagements that require additional human rights due diligence."
- Industrywide pressure over Project Nimbus has intensified after last week's reporting, with Amazon and Google agreeing to demands, while Microsoft lost the $1.2 billion contract partly for refusing some requests, and Azure remains vital for AI firms like OpenAI.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Microsoft Launches Anonymous Portal for Employees to Raise Concerns About its Tech
Microsoft found itself in hot waters after a report by The Guardian went viral online alleging that the company’s tech has been misused by Israel to “commit genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.” The company addressed these allegations in an internal memo and blocked some Azure and AI services for Israel’s Defense Ministry. Now, […]
Microsoft launches new ethics reporting tool
Microsoft has introduced a new internal feature that allows employees to confidentially report potential misuse of the company’s technology. The move comes amid its growing criticism over its alleged involvement in military surveillance operations. The tool, called ‘Trusted Technology Review,’ has been added to Microsoft’s existing Integrity Portal. It enables employees to raise ethical or policy concerns related to the development or deployment…
Microsoft Introduces New Employee Channel to Report Ethical Concerns After Middle East Backlash
Microsoft is giving its more than 200,000 employees a formal way to raise ethical or human rights concerns about how the company’s technology is used, following weeks of internal unrest tied to its work in the Middle East. In a memo disclosed in a securities filing on Wednesday, Microsoft President Brad Smith said the company has added a new feature to its internal portal that allows employees to request a “Trusted Technology Review.” The proces…
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