Microsoft is a founding member of the Global Network Initiative (GNI), a multi-stakeholder initiative that is dedicated to advancing freedom of expression and privacy on the global internet. Two factors that uniquely define GNI are the GNI Principles and the GNI independent assessment process. GNI recently published the results of its second independent assessment of GNI member companies, and again determined that Microsoft complies with the GNI Principles.
We at Microsoft have a long-standing and deep commitment to protection of the rights of our customers, as reflected in the Microsoft Global Human Rights Statement, our early support for the U.N. Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP) and the creation of our Technology and Human Rights Center (THRC). As we stated when we founded the THRC, we are committed to embedding the UNGP “respect” concept into consideration of the relationship between human rights and key business topics, such as specific products, services and technologies; market entry, exit and engagement; and business strategy, models and operations. So we were particularly pleased to see that the 2015/2016 independent assessment noted that our “commitment to protecting freedom of expression and privacy genuinely seems to have become a ‘lens’ through which business decisions are evaluated at various levels of the company.”
We are glad to share this view of the progress we have made, but, of course, there is always more work to be done. We remain committed to earning and building your trust in all that we do, including our work to advance respect across the globe for freedom of expression and privacy in the ITC sector.
For more on the Global Network Initiative, visit this website.