Microsoft wants government to provide more transparency for security requests

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Microsoft is now joining fellow tech giants Google and Facebook in asking the U.S. government for more transparency in regard to government requests for national security information. Microsoft issued this statement a short while ago, noting that it would like to provide more information than what showed up in the company’s 2012 Law Enforcement Request Report published last March…. Read More…

Microsoft sees charitable efforts as key recruiting tool for young talent

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While high-tech companies like Google and Facebook have made it tougher for Microsoft to recruit and retain top employees and engineers over the years, the Redmond-based software giant believes that its philanthropic efforts are attracting talent now more than ever. Brad Smith, Microsoft’s general counsel, sat down with reporters after Microsoft marked its 30th Employee… Read More…

Why Microsoft is pouring money into youth programs

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Microsoft this morning unveiled a new direction for its global philanthropic initiatives, announcing a program called YouthSpark that aims to boost educational, employment and economic opportunities for young people around the world. The company says the majority of its philanthropic spending, including cash and technology donations, will now go toward programs and initiatives that support that mission… Read More…

As new H-1B season begins, Microsoft renews call to loosen rules on foreign workers

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It’s the start of an annual tradition, and the revival of a perennial debate. Today is the first day for companies to submit petitions to employ highly skilled foreign workers in the U.S. under H-1B visas in 2013 — a program used by many U.S. tech companies to allow engineers from China, India and other… Read More…

Microsoft backs Obama plan for ‘Privacy Bill of Rights’

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Microsoft says it will support a push by the Obama administration for new online new privacy legislation that would give Internet users more control over and access to the information collected about them as they browse the web. “Consumer trust is vital to the growth of a vibrant Internet, and respect for privacy is a… Read More…