Microsoft On the Issues | Technology News and Public Policy Perspectives

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Today in Technology: Humanity’s First View of Itself

Rural Broadband

The rural broadband divide: An urgent national problem that we can solve

house at night

Ensuring a healthy community: the need for affordable housing

Latest News On The Issues

Microsoft and National Geographic Society announce AI for Earth Innovation grantees

These 11 changemakers will uncover new insights to better monitor, model and ultimately manage natural resources more effectively and sustainably.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: An important anniversary for people and for technology

Read about the “Magna Carta for all mankind.”

Facial recognition: It’s time for action

Everyone is at risk of cyberwarfare. But there’s something you can do.

Microsoft is working with others to prevent digital attacks as part of the Digital Peace Now movement.

Millennials encounter the most risk online, research shows

Results from Microsoft’s latest research into digital civility.

Getting back to nature with AI

Why Microsoft and the National Geographic Society are working to advance conservation science.

Portraits of grit, glory and good vibes from the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games

Athletes from across the U.S. took part in the Special Olympics. Here are some of their stories.

‘These are employees you want’: Special Olympics job fair is a win for athletes, region

Career coaching and employer training on inclusive hiring at the first Special Olympics job fair.

Cybersecurity View more

Microsoft Is Right: We Need a Digital Geneva Convention

Heidi Tworek writes about Brad Smith’s call to action in Wired Opinion.

Brad Smith takes call for Digital Geneva Convention to U.N.

Watch Microsoft’s president speak in Geneva in 2017.

Microsoft Corporate Blogs

A new era in cloud computing

Why it’s more important than ever to keep the cloud secure.

Microsoft Corporate Blogs

Defending Democracy Program View more

a ballot going into a ballot box

Elections under threat: Europe’s electronic voting landscape

Microsoft Corporate Blogs

Defending against disinformation in partnership with NewsGuard

Microsoft is helping organizations combat disinformation efforts that seek to distort democratic discourse.

Tom Burt - Corporate Vice President, Customer Security & Trust

Protecting democracy with Microsoft AccountGuard

Two developments in our work to protect critical democratic processes.

Tom Burt - Corporate Vice President, Customer Security & Trust

Privacy View more

Brad Smith at the Supreme Court

The CLOUD Act is an important step forward, but now more steps need to follow

There remains important and urgent work ahead of us, writes Brad Smith in April 2018.

Brad Smith - PresidentPresident

Something extraordinary happened in Washington, D.C.

Read more in this post from January 2018.

Brad Smith - PresidentPresident

Balancing law enforcement needs with privacy: digital data laws

Brad Smith reflects on two important issues facing Congress, in June 2017.

Brad Smith - PresidentPresident

Rural Broadband View more

How we can all help bring broadband to rural communities

Watch the video.

Eliminating the rural broadband gap

Microsoft calls for U.S. strategy, to be completed in five years.

Microsoft Corporate Blogs

Today in Technology: innovation in the heart of America

Cutting-edge technology once took root in the center of the country. It can happen again.

Brad Smith - PresidentPresident

Sustainability View more

Microsoft brings directly purchased renewable energy total to 1.2 gigawatts

That is enough to light up 100 million LED bulbs.

Brad Smith - PresidentPresident

Microsoft celebrates Earth Day with new ways to enable anyone to protect the planet

The company has taken steps on critical issues like carbon, energy and water.

Microsoft Corporate Blogs

AI for Earth can be a game-changer for our planet

Brad Smith - PresidentPresident

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Today in Technology: The Top 10 Tech Issues for 2019

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Washington State

Tomorrow’s innovators: First class graduates from Global Innovation Exchange

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Empowerment marks the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities

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Tech is flourishing in Vancouver. Here are 5 reasons why.

Photo of hallway with brightly lit displays and a sign at end of the hall that says Microsoft Cybercrime Center

How PhotoDNA for Video is being used to fight online child exploitation

A call for principle-based international agreements to govern law enforcement access to data

Artificial Intelligence

Mitigating unfair bias in artificial intelligence

How one nonprofit turned a golf course into a ‘no-fail’ job training program

Defending Democracy Program

We are taking new steps against broadening threats to democracy

Artificial Intelligence

5 takeaways from Brad Smith’s speech at the RISE conference

Artificial Intelligence

Can sound help save a dwindling elephant population? Scientists using AI think so.

Microsoft 2014 Hackathon EyeGaze team

The Ability Hacks: The story of two hackathon teams embracing the transformative power of technology

Woman with huge smile on her face standing in the crowds in the rotunda of the Washington state Capitol building.

‘These are employees you want’: Special Olympics job fair is a win for athletes, region

a group of children look at a laptop on a chair

Rural Broadband

RADWIN and Microsoft announce strategic partnership to deliver innovative TV White Space solutions

Microsoft President Brad Smith: ‘The battle is not over’ to protect migrant children

Brad Smith: The country needs to get immigration right

The rainbow ripple effect: how Microsoft and its LGBTQ+ employees push for change across borders

Microsoft’s commitment to GDPR, privacy and putting customers in control of their own data

Using AI to empower people with disabilities

New solutions to help nonprofits drive impact

34 companies stand up for cybersecurity with a tech accord

Artificial Intelligence

Technology, ethics and the law: Grappling with our AI-powered future

Civil actions: How four simple rules can make the internet safer

A new IP strategy for a new era of shared innovation

photo of man running under a blue sky and smiling during a track workout

‘He just took off’: Elite runner looks to Special Olympics, breaking his personal marathon record

New solar deal moves us ahead of schedule in creating a cleaner cloud

El Paso, Texas downtown skyline

Microsoft TechSpark expands to Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming

Young women continue to lose interest in STEM education. Here is what we can do about it.

Advancing blockchain cybersecurity: Policy recommendations for growth and innovation

Daring to dream: Global Innovation Exchange crosses borders as it builds bridges to the future

How AI for Earth can be a force multiplier for sustainability solutions

Today in Technology

The top 10 tech issues for 2018

Artificial Intelligence

The Future Computed: Artificial Intelligence and its role in society

Cloud for Global Good

A Cloud for Global Good for 2018

Today in Technology

The day the horse lost its job

U.S. says Facebook, Microsoft disabled North Korean cyber threats

Today in Technology

High-skilled immigration has long been controversial, but its benefits are clear

Securing the Cloud: Inside the race to keep us all safe

Video: UN hears from Microsoft on the need for a Digital Geneva Convention

Microsoft and the Green Bay Packers want to score some innovation via a $10 million venture effort

Securing greener power for Europe’s digital future

The per-country limits on employment-based green cards are neither fair nor good for our country

Microsoft TechSpark: A new civic program to foster economic opportunity for all Americans

Microsoft and National Geographic Society announce AI for Earth Innovation grantees