We are taking new steps against broadening threats to democracy
blogs.microsoft.com
We are taking new steps against broadening threats to democracy
1–10 of 63 posts
Re: We are taking new steps against broadening threats to democracy
#2I like most of Brad Smith's initiatives, but I hope the end-goal here isn't to just put more Windows on voting machines. Because the last voting machines that got Windows are some of the least secure devices around, many of them still unpatched for many years.
I know that's not all Microsoft's fault, but if that's their "solution" or others similar to it, then we'd be better off without them in the long term.
And that's without even mentioning the whole issue around proprietary software being used in the voting process (even if it's just for counting votes, because nobody ever checks or audits those after the fact anyways, and the numbers are always taken at face value).
Re: We are taking new steps against broadening threats to democracy
#3"It’s clear that democracies around the world are under attack. Foreign entities are launching cyber strikes to disrupt elections and sow discord. Unfortunately, the internet has become an avenue for some governments to steal and leak information, spread disinformation, and probe and potentially attempt to tamper with voting systems. We saw this during the United States general election in 2016, last May during the French presidential election, and now in a broadening way as Americans are preparing for the November midterm elections."
Now that is a strong first paragraph. Microsoft is essentially saying that Russia did indeed influence the 2016 election (presumably in collaboration with Trump). I know the facts are public, but I did not expect such a big company to take such a political position.
Re: We are taking new steps against broadening threats to democracy
#4Please Microsoft, I accept thee as my lord and savior. Please guide me what to think! /s
Re: We are taking new steps against broadening threats to democracy
#5By subverting privacy Microsoft is a threat to democracy itself.
Re: We are taking new steps against broadening threats to democracy
#6"It’s clear that democracies around the world are under attack. Foreign entities are launching cyber strikes to disrupt elections and sow discord. Unfortunately, the internet has become an avenue for some governments to steal and leak information, spread disinformation, and probe and potentially attempt to tamper with voting systems. We saw this during the United States general election in 2016, last May during the F…
What facts are public?
Re: We are taking new steps against broadening threats to democracy
#7There is a lot of broadening going on
Re: We are taking new steps against broadening threats to democracy
#8"Last week, Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) successfully executed a court order to disrupt and transfer control of six internet domains..."
What does this mean? Was the domains hosted on Microsoft DNS servers? Or did Microsoft get a court order to go after domains hosted by other companies? I'm probably missing something, but isn't that the job of the police?
Re: We are taking new steps against broadening threats to democracy
#9You have to hand it to Microsoft's PR machinery. While companies have been offering similar services, not many wouldn't have tried to link it to "broadening threats to democracy".
Re: We are taking new steps against broadening threats to democracy
#10I thought this was about the censorship of Gab posts that occurred a few days ago which they ordered.