Microsoft Corporation abandoned its planned $1 billion data center project in Licking County, Ohio, as part of a strategic investment review. This decision may negatively impact local economic opportunities and job creation.

During Microsoft's 50th anniversary celebration on 2025-04-04, an employee disrupted the event, accusing the company of profiting from a $133 million AI contract with Israel’s Ministry of Defense and silencing dissent among minority employees, thereby implicating the firm in enabling oppressive surveillance and human rights abuses.

Microsoft announced updates to its Copilot AI assistant that now enables it to autonomously perform online tasks such as booking reservations, purchasing items, and planning travel itineraries through simple chat prompts, partnering with several travel and service companies.

Microsoft Corporation entered into a significant contract to rent GPUs from CoreWeave to bolster its Azure cloud services following the rapid adoption of ChatGPT. The deal, reportedly worth potentially billions of dollars, reflects routine business practices intended to alleviate capacity strains rather than a politically or ethically charged maneuver.

In an NBC interview, Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, predicted that within the next decade AI will replace many professional roles such as doctors and teachers, potentially devaluing human expertise and displacing workers. His comments underscore both the promise of democratized AI services and the risks to labor rights and job security.

A recent court filing reveals that Microsoft Azure is listed among the partners receiving revenue share from Meta's Llama AI models. This involvement raises concerns about Microsoft's role in supporting a technology that has been developed using questionable methods, including training on pirated content, thereby indirectly enabling practices that may be associated with unethical corporate behavior.

Microsoft Corporation is among the companies enlisted in a $1.4 trillion investment framework spearheaded by UAE officials, strengthening ties with President Trump. This event raises concerns over corporate complicity in fostering authoritarian influence through economic collaboration.

Microsoft has been named as a key partner in a $30 billion AI infrastructure fund alongside BlackRock, Nvidia, and others. This move raises concerns about deepening corporate economic collaboration and the potential dual-use nature of advanced AI technologies that could be leveraged for surveillance or repressive purposes.

On March 20, 2025, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates met with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to discuss the potential of AI in agriculture and health, reflecting a positive example of corporate engagement in public policy and ethical technological innovation.

Microsoft published its human rights statement detailing its commitment to robust human rights due diligence, responsible supply chain practices, and providing accessible grievance mechanisms for vulnerable groups.

Microsoft released a detailed human rights statement outlining its commitment to ongoing due diligence, remediation, and stakeholder engagement. The document details measures for assessing adverse human rights impacts, provides grievance mechanisms, and emphasizes commitments to supporting vulnerable groups and human rights defenders, reflecting a strong stance against authoritarian practices.

Microsoft announced new policies to ban content defined as 'terrorist content' on consumer platforms such as Xbox Live, Outlook email services, and its document-sharing service. The company will use consumer reports and research tools to flag and remove extremist content, while continuing to uphold free speech on its Bing search engine.

The US FTC has launched an investigation into Microsoft's competitive practices in cloud computing, software licensing, and AI, raising concerns over anticompetitive behavior and regulatory capture that could undermine market fairness and democratic accountability.

Microsoft is leading efforts to detect and counter foreign disinformation targeting U.S. elections from countries including Russia, China, and Iran, as reported by NBC News.

Microsoft Threat Analysis Center released a report warning that foreign state actors from Russia, China, and Iran are using AI-generated content and other tactics to spread disinformation aimed at undermining the US electoral process. The advisory highlights efforts targeting various political campaigns and emphasizes the growing sophistication of such influence operations.

Microsoft Corporation has agreed to a $14.4 million settlement to resolve allegations of discrimination against employees taking protected leave, highlighting significant concerns regarding its labor relations and adherence to ethical human rights practices.

Microsoft reached a $14.4-million settlement after being accused of retaliation and discrimination against employees taking parental and disability leave in California. The allegations raise serious concerns about the company's adherence to labor rights and human rights practices.

Microsoft has released its Supplier Code of Conduct (July 2024), a comprehensive document that establishes high ethical standards for its suppliers. The code emphasizes strong human rights and fair labor practices, prohibiting forced labor, child labor, discrimination, and unethical treatment while mandating rigorous supply chain oversight and transparency.

Microsoft is actively involved in organizing coalitions to set AI standards in health care, providing top executives and funding to groups tasked with influencing technical guidelines. This involvement raises concerns over regulatory capture and executive political engagement that could undermine transparent and impartial oversight.

An investigative report highlights growing criticism of Microsoft for censoring Bing search results in China. The censorship removes content on human rights, democracy, and climate change, thereby aiding China's authoritarian regime. Critics argue that by complying with Chinese censorship laws, Microsoft is economically collaborating with a repressive government, which has raised concerns among lawmakers and human rights advocates.

Critics demand that Microsoft pull its Bing service from China due to its compliance with Chinese government censorship rules, a move seen as bolstering authoritarian control over information.

OpenSecrets data reveals that Microsoft Corporation contributed over $14.7 million and spent approximately $10.35 million on lobbying during the 2024 election cycle. The report also highlights significant revolving door connections, with many of its lobbyists having held previous government positions, raising concerns about its political influence.

Asda has migrated from Walmart’s legacy SAP ERP system to a new instance of S/4HANA hosted on Microsoft Azure, marking a key step in its broader tech transformation following the divestiture from Walmart technology. This move underscores Microsoft’s role as a leading provider of cloud-based infrastructure in large-scale digital modernization projects.

Microsoft published a comprehensive Supply Chain Human Rights Policy Statement that outlines its strong commitment to respecting human rights, enforcing ethical standards, and implementing rigorous risk management measures throughout its global supply chain. The document details due diligence processes, supplier monitoring and audit procedures, as well as grievance and remediation mechanisms aimed at addressing labor abuses and ensuring safe, fair working conditions.

Microsoft released an updated Supply Chain Human Rights Policy Statement that details its commitment to human rights in its global supply chain. The policy outlines risk management measures against forced labor, discrimination, and poor labor practices, and reinforces remediation and supplier compliance processes.

Microsoft reaffirmed its commitment to labor rights by announcing four guiding principles on labor organizing and establishing a neutrality agreement with the Communication Workers of America (CWA). This agreement is set to support union representation among its global workforce and the incoming Activision Blizzard employees.

Microsoft published its human rights statement outlining robust due diligence, grievance mechanisms, non-retaliation policies, and proactive engagement with vulnerable groups, reinforcing its commitment to ethical business practices and human rights protection.

Microsoft Corporation cut 650 jobs in its Xbox unit in September as part of broader cost-cutting measures, an action which raises concerns over workers' rights and labor practices.

Microsoft's $2 billion investment to build a cloud storage facility in Saudi Arabia has sparked alarms among human rights activists, who warn that the deal may enable repressive surveillance and data exploitation by a regime with a poor human rights record.

A shareholder-commissioned Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA) report on Microsoft’s enterprise cloud services and contracts with law enforcement agencies has been sharply criticized for failing to incorporate up-to-date, sector-specific guidance and for downplaying the company’s role in enabling surveillance technologies that adversely affect marginalized communities.

Microsoft’s decision to invest in a cloud data center in Saudi Arabia has sparked controversy due to the Kingdom’s poor human rights record and extensive use of surveillance technology. Critics argue that this move could legitimize an authoritarian regime, while proponents suggest it offers an opportunity for positive change through engagement.

Human Rights Watch has urged Microsoft to suspend its $9 billion investment in a new cloud data center region in Saudi Arabia, citing concerns that such an investment could enable state surveillance and serious human rights abuses linked to the repressive practices of the Saudi regime.

Human Rights Watch called on Microsoft on April 13, 2023 to suspend its planned cloud data center investment in Saudi Arabia, arguing that the move risks facilitating human rights abuses by enabling unchecked state surveillance and data privacy violations under repressive laws.

In February 2023, Microsoft announced plans to invest in a cloud data center in Saudi Arabia despite significant human rights concerns raised by multiple groups. Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, urged the company to suspend its investment until it can demonstrate robust measures to mitigate data access by repressive authorities and safeguard human rights.

Microsoft has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining robust supply chain ethics by enforcing strict supplier standards as outlined in its corporate responsibility page. The company requires suppliers to abide by its Code of Conduct and cascades human rights expectations throughout its supply chain.

Microsoft's official blog announces a set of guiding principles to support employee organizing and engagement with labor organizations, emphasizing the company’s commitment to worker rights and union collaboration.

Microsoft announces a new set of guiding principles to support employee organizing and labor engagement, affirming its commitment to worker rights and collaborative labor relations. This initiative aims to foster an open dialogue between management and employees, supporting union formation where desired, and ensuring fair treatment in the evolving labor landscape.

An investigative report revealed that Microsoft reported 46 major slavery-related issues in its supply chain, raising serious concerns about its labor rights and ethical sourcing practices despite its stated commitment to banning forced labor and enforcing a strict supplier code of conduct.

Microsoft's PAC suspended donations to members of Congress who voted to object to the certification of electors in the 2020 election, and introduced the Democracy Forward Initiative to support democratic reforms.

On February 6, 2021, Microsoft announced that its Stakeholders Voluntary PAC would temporarily cease political donations to members of Congress who voted against certifying the US election results, a move that underpins its Democracy Forward Initiative aimed at strengthening democratic norms and resisting authoritarianism.

Microsoft's announcement outlines a suspension of political contributions to members of Congress and state officials who objected to the certification of electors, as well as the creation of a Democracy Forward Initiative to support transparent and democratic practices.

Microsoft has suspended political donations from its corporate PAC to Republican lawmakers who voted against certifying Biden's win. This decision, made in the wake of the Capitol riot and following employee listening sessions, reflects the company’s commitment to aligning its political contributions with democratic accountability and distancing itself from actions that may support authoritarian tendencies.

Microsoft announced it will suspend campaign contributions for the 2022 election cycle to any member of Congress who voted to object to the 2020 presidential election results, as well as state officials and organizations that supported similar objections. The move, coming nearly a month after the Capitol riot, reflects the company's effort to dissociate from actors undermining democratic processes.

Microsoft announced that it will suspend its PAC contributions for the duration of the 2022 election cycle to any members of Congress who voted to object to the certification of electors. In addition, the company introduced the Democracy Forward Initiative to support organizations promoting transparency, campaign finance reform, and voting rights.

Microsoft has publicly confirmed that it is halting political donations while it reviews whether to further suspend contributions to lawmakers who voted against certifying the election results. The decision, announced internally by President Brad Smith on January 8 and publicly confirmed on January 25, is intended to ensure that the company’s political contributions support democratic norms and do not inadvertently reward opposition to the Electoral College.

In 2021, Microsoft provided 'free' cybersecurity upgrades and consulting services to federal agencies. The free trial led to a lock-in effect, where agencies continued to pay for the services after the trial ended, effectively bypassing competitive bidding processes and consolidating Microsoft's market power.

Microsoft announced new policies to restrict 'terrorist content' on several consumer services, including Xbox Live, Outlook, and document-sharing platforms, while maintaining free expression protections for its Bing search engine. The company is also funding research for automated tools to flag extremist content.