In October last year, after these demands were published, Microsoft fired two employees who organized a vigil at the company’s headquarters for Palestinians killed in Gaza.
Speech & moderationConfirmedYou decide
Microsoft censors politically sensitive Chinese names in US searches
Microsoft censors politically sensitive Chinese names in US searches according to a cybersecurity report.
Microsoft Recalls AC Power Cords for Surface Pro Devices Due to Fire, Shock Hazards
Microsoft Recalls AC Power Cords for Surface Pro Devices Due to Fire, Shock Hazards
Wages & economic policyOfficial statementAgainst
Microsoft Corporation shifted profits on U.S. sales to U.S. customers from the United States to an offshore tax haven
In September, we examined two case studies: (1) a study of how Microsoft Corporation shifted profits on U.S. sales to U.S. customers from the United States to an offshore tax haven; and (2) a study of how Hewlett-Packard devised a “staggered foreign loan program” to effectively repatriate offshore profits to the United States without paying U.S. taxes that are supposed to follow repatriation.
The dispute centers on a 2012 IRS audit into transfer pricing, a method used by companies to shift profits to tax havens and avoid the US corporate tax rate. At the time, Microsoft had been moving billions of dollars in profits to such jurisdictions as Puerto Rico, a US territory that levies a much lower corporate rate.
Tax Code – Part 1 (Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard),” S.Hrg.112-781 (Sept. 20, 2012); “Offshore Profit Shifting and the U.S. Tax Code - Part 2 (Apple Inc.),” S.Hrg.
In September, we examined two case studies: (1) a study of how Microsoft Corporation shifted profits on U.S. sales to U.S. customers from the United States to an offshore tax haven; and (2) a study of how Hewlett-Packard devised a “staggered foreign loan program” to effectively repatriate offshore profits to the United States without paying U.S. taxes that are supposed to follow repatriation.
Corporate conductAllegationAgainst
Microsoft is accused of closing email accounts without warning
Palestinians abroad accuse Microsoft of unfairly closing their email accounts without warning, disrupting access to essential services like banking and job offers.
According to a recent BBC report, Palestinians abroad accuse Microsoft of unfairly closing their email accounts without warning, disrupting access to essential services like banking and job offers.
According to a recent BBC report, Palestinians abroad accuse Microsoft of unfairly closing their email accounts without warning, disrupting access to essential services like banking and job offers.
According to a recent BBC report, Palestinians abroad accuse Microsoft of unfairly closing their email accounts without warning, disrupting access to essential services like banking and job offers.
According to a recent BBC report, Palestinians abroad accuse Microsoft of unfairly closing their email accounts without warning, disrupting access to essential services like banking and job offers.
According to a recent BBC report, Palestinians abroad accuse Microsoft of unfairly closing their email accounts without warning, disrupting access to essential services like banking and job offers.
Microsoft launches investigation into alleged Israeli military surveillance using Azure - Business and Human Rights Centre
According to a recent BBC report, Palestinians abroad accuse Microsoft of unfairly closing their email accounts without warning, disrupting access to essential services like banking and job offers.
According to a recent BBC report, Palestinians abroad accuse Microsoft of unfairly closing their email accounts without warning, disrupting access to essential services like banking and job offers.
According to a recent BBC report, Palestinians abroad accuse Microsoft of unfairly closing their email accounts without warning, disrupting access to essential services like banking and job offers.
USA: Protest at Microsoft HQ targets alleged ties to Israeli military operations in Gaza - Business and Human Rights Centre
ManufacturingConfirmedYou decide
Microsoft shuttered 15+ China offices
Microsoft shut down 15 or more offices in China, relocating Surface and Xbox production and cutting 400 Azure jobs.
Microsoft shuttered 15+ China offices, moved Surface and Xbox production out, and cut 400 Azure jobs while China contributes just 2% of its global revenue.
Privacy & surveillanceProposed settlementAgainst
Microsoft was settled by the FTC for illegally collecting children's data
FTC Will Require Microsoft to Pay $20 million over Charges it Illegally Collected Personal Information from Children without Their Parents’ Consent.
The agency charged that Microsoft gathered the data without notifying parents or obtaining their consent, and that it also illegally held onto the data.
Microsoft will pay $20M to settle U.S. charges of illegally collecting children's data | AP News
As part of a settlement, Microsoft agreed to comply with the law to protect children’s privacy on Xbox Live and to get parental consent for the personal information it collected from children’s accounts created before May 2021.
Microsoft blocked my account access for “security” purposes and said I had the wrong login info when trying to get into my Xbox live account.
This article Microsoft Liable To $20M Penalty For Violation Of Childrens' Privacy originally appeared on Benzinga.com
Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT) agreed to pay $20 million to settle the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's charges of user privacy violation by collecting personal information from children who signed up for its Xbox gaming system without notifying their parents and illegally retaining their data.
The agency charged that Microsoft gathered the data without notifying parents or obtaining their consent, and that it also illegally held onto the data.
The FTC said Microsoft violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act by not properly getting parental consent and by retaining personal data on children under 13 for longer than necessary for accounts created before 2021.
Microsoft will pay $20m (£16m) to US federal regulators after it was found to have illegally collected data on children who had started Xbox accounts.
According to the consumer protection agency, Microsoft allegedly collected and retained the personal information of children who had signed up for the Xbox Live service without requesting their parents' consent or even notifying them.
Microsoft has agreed to pay a $20 million fine and change data privacy procedures for children to settle Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charges over Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) violations.
As part of a settlement, Microsoft agreed to comply with the law to protect children's privacy on Xbox Live and to get parental consent for the personal information it collected from children's accounts created before May 2021.
Microsoft to pay $20 million over FTC charges surrounding kids' data collection
Microsoft will pay a fine of $20 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it illegally collected and retained the data of children who signed up to use its Xbox video game console.
The agency charged that Microsoft gathered the data without notifying parents or obtaining their consent, and that it also illegally held onto the data.
The order also extends to third-party game publishers Microsoft shares children’s data with.
“Our proposed order makes it easier for parents to protect their children’s privacy on Xbox, and limits what information Microsoft can collect and retain about kids,” Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement.
The FTC’s order also requires Microsoft to take steps to strengthen privacy protections for child users of the Xbox system.
Microsoft to Pay $20M to Settle FTC Charges It Violated Children's Privacy - CNET
In addition to the $20 million civil penalty and injunctive provisions that have become standard in FTC COPPA cases, the proposed order will require Microsoft to implement new business practices to increase privacy protections for Xbox users under 13.
Among other things, if parents haven’t created a separate account for their kids, Microsoft must let them know that a separate account will provide additional privacy protections for their child by default. The company also must maintain a system to delete, within two weeks from the collection date, all personal information collected from kids for the purpose of getting parental consent unless the parent grants consent within that time.
The FTC alleges that by collecting personal information from kids under 13 before getting their parents involved, Microsoft violated Section 312.5 of COPPA.
$20 million FTC settlement addresses Microsoft Xbox illegal collection of kids’ data: A game changer for COPPA compliance | Federal Trade Commission
$20 million FTC settlement addresses Microsoft Xbox illegal collection of kids’ data: A game changer for COPPA compliance
Under the proposed order, that includes the video game publishers who must now be told by Microsoft when a user is under 13.
And if Microsoft discloses personal information about children to video game publishers, Microsoft must tell them the user is a child – a key provision that will put those publishers on notice that they, too, must apply COPPA protections to that child.
The proposed settlement with Microsoft sends a strong reminder to companies that the phrase “personal information” under COPPA covers much more than just a name or address.
The proposed settlement with Microsoft sends a strong reminder to companies that the phrase “personal information” under COPPA covers much more than just a name or address. It also includes other information concerning the child or the parents of the child collected online from the child – for example, things like avatars, biometrics, vital signs, and health data, when collected and combined with other categories of personal information set forth in the Rule.
The FTC says Microsoft violated that provision by collecting kids’ names, email addresses, and phone numbers up front and only after that did the company notify parents and ask for their consent.
What’s more, it didn’t include a mandatory explanation for how parents can ask Microsoft to delete their child’s personal information and to stop collecting it in the future.
Here, though, Microsoft collected certain personal information from children during the account registration process, but even if the company ultimately didn’t get parental consent, the FTC says that from 2015 until 2020, Microsoft held on to that data – often for years after the account creation process wasn’t completed.
The FTC’s action focuses on three ways in which Microsoft allegedly violated COPPA: 1) by collecting personal information from kids under 13 before notifying their parents and getting parental consent; 2) by failing to tell parents about the information the company collects from kids, why it’s collecting that information, and the fact that it discloses some of the data to third parties; and 3) by retaining kids’ personal information for longer than is reasonably necessary.
Filed by the Department of Justice on the FTC’s behalf, the $20 million proposed settlement will require Microsoft to bolster privacy protections for kids who use its Xbox gaming system. The order also makes it clear that COPPA covers information like avatars generated from a child’s image, biometric data, and health data collected with other personal information – and reminds businesses that the Rule imposes strict limitations on the retention of data from kids.
As part of a proposed order filed by the Department of Justice on behalf of the FTC, Microsoft will be required to take several steps to bolster privacy protections for child users of its Xbox system.
“Our proposed order makes it easier for parents to protect their children’s privacy on Xbox, and limits what information Microsoft can collect and retain about kids,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Microsoft will pay $20 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting personal information from children who signed up to its Xbox gaming system without notifying their parents or obtaining their parents’ consent, and by illegally retaining children’s personal information.
For example, the order will extend COPPA protections to third-party gaming publishers with whom Microsoft shares children’s data.
Proposed order will require Microsoft to bolster protections for children; makes clear that avatars and biometric and health data are protected under COPPA
FTC Will Require Microsoft to Pay $20 million over Charges it Illegally Collected Personal Information from Children without Their Parents’ Consent
Blog: $20 million FTC settlement addresses Microsoft Xbox illegal collection of kids’ data: A game changer for COPPA compliance
1923258 This statement accompanies the stipulated order for permanent injunction and civil penalty judgment (“Order”) executed by defendant Microsoft Corporation (“Microsoft”) in a settlement of an action brought to obtain civil penalties and equitable relief from Microsoft for engaging in acts or practices in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (“COPPA”), 15 U.S.C.
The settlement requires Microsoft to pay a monetary judgment in the amount of $20 million.
For the foregoing reasons, the Commission believes that the settlement by entry of the attached Order with Microsoft is justified and well within the public interest.
§ 45(m)(3), the Commission hereby sets forth its reasons for settlement by entry of this Order: On the basis of the allegations contained in the attached complaint, the Commission believes that the $20 million civil penalty, along with various injunctive provisions, constitutes an appropriate settlement. The civil penalty coupled with injunctive relief enjoining Microsoft from violating the COPPA Rule in connection with operating the Xbox Live Service or any equivalent or similar game service constitute an effective means to assure Microsoft’s future compliance and deter others who might violate COPPA.
The civil penalty coupled with injunctive relief enjoining Microsoft from violating the COPPA Rule in connection with operating the Xbox Live Service or any equivalent or similar game service constitute an effective means to assure Microsoft’s future compliance and deter others who might violate COPPA.
District Court for the Western District of Washington, the United States alleges that Microsoft knew that certain users were children but nonetheless continued to collect personal information, such as telephone numbers, before notifying parents of Microsoft’s information collection practices and before obtaining parental consent.
Microsoft Agrees to Pay $20 Million Civil Penalty for Alleged Violations of Children’s Privacy Laws
Finally, the complaint alleges that in certain instances when children started, but did not complete, creating Xbox Live accounts, Microsoft retained their personal information for longer than permitted by the COPPA Rule.
The Justice Department, together with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), announced today that the United States has resolved a case against Microsoft Corp. regarding its practices for collecting and retaining personal information from children who use Microsoft’s Xbox Live service.
“I commend Microsoft for quickly acknowledging it was illegally collecting and retaining personal data of children younger than 13, and for taking steps to fix the problem.”
“Our proposed order makes it easier for parents to protect their children’s privacy on Xbox, and limits what information Microsoft can collect and retain about kids,” said Director Samuel Levine of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
The stipulated order issued by the court today requires Microsoft to pay $20 million in civil penalties and imposes injunctive relief to settle allegations that Microsoft violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA Rule) in connection with the Xbox Live service, which consumers use to connect online and with others through the Xbox brand of gaming consoles.
Office of Public Affairs | Microsoft Agrees to Pay $20 Million Civil Penalty for Alleged Violations of Children’s Privacy Laws | United States Department of Justice
“This settlement requires Microsoft to clearly communicate with parents about their child’s data and sets up procedures to monitor Microsoft’s compliance with federal statutes regarding children’s online privacy.
Justice Department Settles with Microsoft to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination Claims
Workplace equityConfirmedYou decide
Microsoft rolls back DEI programs and removes hate speech protections on LinkedIn
Microsoft kowtowed to Trump administration pressure by rolling back Diversity, Equity and Inclusion commitments and removing hate speech protections on LinkedIn.
But the company has also kowtowed to pressure from the Trump administration to roll back Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) commitments and has removed some hate speech protections on LinkedIn, which Microsoft owns.
Corporate conductConfirmedAgainst
Microsoft seeks to disrupt cybercriminal AI bypass tools
Microsoft seeks to disrupt a sophisticated scheme by cybercriminals who have developed tools to bypass generative AI safety guardrails.
“By this action, Microsoft seeks to disrupt a sophisticated scheme carried out by cybercriminals who have developed tools specifically designed to bypass the safety guardrails of generative AI services provided by Microsoft and others,” lawyers wrote in a complaint filed in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia and unsealed Friday.
Privacy & surveillanceConfirmedIn favor
Microsoft limits student data use for AI training
Microsoft cannot train AI models on student or educator data and must limit data collection with plain-language disclosures.
Microsoft cannot train models on student or educator data, must limit data collection and provide plain-language disclosures, while AI companions are prohibited and high-risk decisions require human oversight.
Corporate conductConfirmedAgainst
Microsoft misleads consumers about account security
Microsoft misleads consumers by claiming accounts are not secure unless Passport is used.
Microsoft misleads consumers by claiming that their accounts are not secure unless they use passport.
Privacy & surveillanceAllegationAgainst
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) sued Microsoft Ireland Operations over its alleged unlawful processing of personal data for advertising purposes
Microsoft Ireland Operations is being sued in the first ever High Court representative action under new legislation over its alleged unlawful processing of personal data which generates billions in advertising revenue.
Microsoft Ireland Operations is being sued in the first ever High Court representative action under new legislation over its alleged unlawful processing of personal data which generates billions in advertising revenue.
Microsoft making billions from alleged unlawful processing of data for advertising, lawsuit alleges – The Irish Times
Corporate conductConfirmedAgainst
Microsoft pays $25 million to settle corruption charges
Securities and Exchange Commission said Microsoft will pay about $16.6 million to settle charges that it violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Microsoft pays $25 million to settle corruption charges | AP News
While the case centered on Hungary, the SEC said it also found improprieties at Microsoft offices in Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Turkey.
The Justice Department said Microsoft will also pay an $8.75 million criminal fine stemming from the Hungarian bid-rigging and bribery scheme.
NEW YORK (AP) — Microsoft is paying more than $25 million to settle federal corruption charges involving a bribery scheme in Hungary and other foreign offices.
The software maker's Hungarian subsidiary entered into a non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice and a cease-and-desist order with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Microsoft said in an email to employees from Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith that was posted Monday on the company's web site.
Microsoft also agreed to pay nearly $16.6 million to settle related civil charges by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over its activities in Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Turkey, without admitting wrongdoing.
Securities and Exchange Commission said Microsoft will pay about $16.6 million to settle charges that it violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Microsoft pays $25 million to settle corruption charges
While the case centered on Hungary, the SEC said it also found improprieties at Microsoft offices in Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Turkey.
NEW YORK (AP) — Microsoft is paying more than $25 million to settle federal corruption charges involving a bribery scheme in Hungary and other foreign offices.
The Justice Department said Microsoft will also pay an $8.75 million criminal fine stemming from the Hungarian bid-rigging and bribery scheme.
Microsoft to shell out $25 million to settle bribery charges - CNET
Microsoft has settled bribery charges with the US Securities and Exchange Commission and Justice Department.
Microsoft agreed Monday to pay more than $25 million, including an $8.7 million criminal penalty, to settle charges that it bribed government officials in Hungary.
Microsoft said it would settle a federal corruption charge that it was involved in an illegal bribery scheme in Hungary and pay $25 million in fines to put the matter to rest. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said the Washington state-based tech giant would pay approximately $16.6 million to settle charges that several of its subsidiaries violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Microsoft said it would settle a federal corruption charge that it was involved in an illegal bribery scheme in Hungary and pay $25 million in fines to put the matter to rest.
Office of Public Affairs | Hungary Subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation Agrees to Pay $8.7 Million in Criminal Penalties to Resolve Foreign Bribery Case | United States Department of Justice
In a related matter with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Microsoft Corporation agreed to pay to the SEC disgorgement and prejudgment interest totaling approximately $16,565,151 for conduct in Hungary.
In a related matter with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Microsoft Corporation agreed to pay to the SEC disgorgement and prejudgment interest totaling approximately $16,565,151 for conduct including Hungary.
Microsoft Corporation – The company agreed to pay more than $24 million to settle SEC charges related to FCPA violations in Hungary, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Turkey and criminal charges related to Hungary.
Based on the foregoing, the Securities and Exchange Commission finds that Microsoft violated Sections 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A) and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act, and Rules 12b-20, 13a-1 and 13a-13 promulgated thereunder.
The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") deems it appropriate that public administrative proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted pursuant to Section 21C of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") to determine whether Microsoft Corporation ("Respondent") violated Sections 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A), and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act and Rules 12b-20, 13a-1 and 13a-13 thereunder.
SEC Charges Microsoft Corporation with FCPA Violations
July 22, 2019 - The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Microsoft Corporation has agreed to pay more than $16 million to settle charges that it violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in connection with its operations in four different foreign based subsidiaries.
July 22, 2019 - The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Microsoft Corporation has agreed to pay more than $16 million to settle charges that it violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in connection with its operations in four different foreign based subsidiaries.
Reproductive careConfirmedYou decide
Microsoft covers abortion travel costs
Microsoft expanded employee benefits to include travel expenses for abortion care.
Microsoft isn’t the only company that seems to contradict its own politics by promising to cover abortion travel costs for employees, while at the same time donating to political action committees that funded the governors and attorneys general who fought to overturn Roe v.
“Sending multiple militarized police forces after protestors demonstrates that Microsoft views organizing as a serious threat to its bottom line.”
“Microsoft demonstrated that our organizing threatened their business by calling multiple county police departments, as well as the Washington State Police, who then inflicted several injuries on people in our community,” says Julius Shan, another Microsoft employee fired in the wake of the confrontation.
Corporate conductAllegationAgainst
Microsoft is accused of misleading 2 million Aussies
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) alleges Microsoft misled customers because there was an undisclosed third option that would have been $40 to $50 cheaper for personal and family plan users who did not want to use Microsoft's AI Copilot feature.
Corporate conductConfirmedAgainst
Microsoft violated financial reporting controls
Microsoft violated Section 13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act by failing to maintain adequate internal accounting controls.
As a result of the conduct described above, Microsoft also violated Section 13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act, which requires issuers to devise and maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary (I) to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles or any other criteria applicable to such statements, and (II) to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action taken with respect to any differences.
Wages & economic policyConfirmedYou decide
11 tech companies including Microsoft spent $20 million lobbying in Q1 2026
Microsoft participated in a collective $20 million lobbying effort in the first three months of 2026, alongside other top tech companies.
In just the first three months of 2026, 11 top tech companies, including Alphabet, Microsoft, Anthropic, and OpenAI, spent $20 million on lobbying, according to an analysis of first-quarter lobbying reports by Issue One, a bipartisan political reform group.
Workplace equityConfirmedYou decide
Microsoft rolls back DEI workplace priorities
Microsoft removed security and diversity core priorities from employee performance reviews.
Microsoft has removed its companywide security and diversity “core priorities” from its performance reviews, meaning employees no longer have to submit exactly what they did to improve security and diversity and what they plan to do in the future.
Corporate conductSettlementAgainst
The United States filed a civil complaint against Microsoft Corporation alleging anticompetitive conduct in violation of the Sherman Act
The United States filed a civil complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that Microsoft Corporation has engaged in an anticompetitive course of conduct in violation of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. 1, 2.
Briefly, the Department of Justice alleges that Microsoft has monopoly power in the market for personal computer operating systems and that it has engaged in anticompetitive practices to eliminate competitors' browsers as competing platforms for running software applications, thereby unlawfully maintaining its monopoly power.
Specifically, the Court of Appeals found that Microsoft engaged in unlawful exclusionary conduct by using contractual provisions to prohibit computer manufacturers from supporting competing middleware products on Microsoft's operating system; prohibiting consumers and computer manufacturers from removing Microsoft's middleware products from the operating system; and reaching agreements with software developers and third parties to exclude or disadvantage competing middleware products. The proposed Final Judgment will be published by the Federal Register, along with the Department's Competitive Impact Statement, as required by the Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed consent decree within 60 days of its publication to: Renata Hesse, Trial Attorney, 325 7th Street, N.W., Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20530, (202-616-0944). At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, the Court may enter the proposed consent decree upon a finding that it serves the public interest.
As in the case of the monopoly maintenance claim, the court addressed Microsoft’s specific objections, and the attempted monopolization claim is therefore also well postured for this Court’s review.
This is an action under Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act to restrain anticompetitive conduct by defendant Microsoft Corporation ("Microsoft"), the world's largest supplier of computer software for personal computers ("PCs"), and to remedy the effects of its past unlawful conduct.
MICROSOFT VIOLATED SECTION 1 OF THE SHERMAN ACT BY ENTERING INTO NUMEROUS UNLAWFUL EXCLUSIONARY AGREEMENTS
No matter what legally available formulation of a monopolization standard is invoked, and no matter what role is assigned to intent, already-suffered consumer harm, or independent illegality of the concerted aspects of Microsoft's conduct under Section 1, this Court's findings establish that Microsoft engaged in monopolizing acts in violation of Section 2.
Therefore, in determining the level of Microsoft's market power, the relevant market is the licensing of all Intel-compatible PC operating systems world-wide.
9 The court concluded that Microsoft violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act by attempting to monopolize the market for Web browsers, App. 21-24, and Section 1 of the Sherman Act by tying its Web browser to its operating system, App. 25-33. The court found that the conduct that violated the Sherman Act also violated various state laws. App. 39-42. The court rejected the United States' claim that Microsoft's exclusive dealing contracts violated Section 1 of the Sherman Act, but it did so on the basis of its analysis of effects in the Web browser market. App. 34-39. The court recognized that those contracts contributed, however, to Microsoft's maintenance of the operating system monopoly. App. 38. Although we disagree with the legal standard that the court arguably applied to the exclusive dealing claim, the United States has had no occasion to seek further review of the court's exclusive dealing ruling because the court has effectively terminated the unlawful practices as part of its Section 2 remedy. See note 10, infra.
23 Microsoft proposes to argue that the district court erred in entering the final judgment without holding a new evidentiary hearing on remedy. J.S. 23. That argument should not detain the Court. The court had discretion to decide whether additional hearings were needed, and it was entitled to conclude that the trial itself, which detailed the scope of the antitrust violations, provided an adequate basis for determining the scope of relief. The district court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to accede to Microsoft's belated requests for further delay. See App. 248-251.
2. The district court's monopoly maintenance ruling is sufficient to establish liability and support all the relief in the final judgment. The district court additionally ruled, however, that Microsoft has violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act by unlawfully attempting to monopolize the market for Web browsers. App. 21-24. The court correctly stated that liability for attempted monopoly will attach if the plaintiff proves: "(1) that the defendant has engaged in predatory or anticompetitive conduct with (2) a specific intent to monopolize" and (3) that there is a "dangerous probability" that the defendant will succeed in achieving monopoly power. App. 21 (quoting Spectrum Sports, Inc. v. McQuillan, 506 U.S. 447, 456 (1993)). The court properly ruled that the plaintiffs proved each of those elements. App. 21-24. As in the case of the monopoly maintenance claim, the court addressed Microsoft's specific objections, and the attempted monopolization claim is therefore also well postured for this Court's review. App. 21-24.20
On the central issue in the case, the district court ruled that Microsoft had successfully engaged in a series of anticompetitive acts to protect and maintain its personal computer (PC) operating system monopoly, in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act. See Pet. App. A10; J.S. App. A3-A21. The court also ruled that Microsoft had attempted to monopolize the internet Web browser market, in violation of Section 2, and had tied its Web browser, Internet Explorer, to its Windows operating system, in violation of Section 1. See Pet. App. A10; J.S. App. A21-A33. The district court rejected the government's claim that Microsoft's exclusive dealing contracts violated Section 1 of the Sherman Act. See Pet. App. A10; J.S. App. A34-A39. To remedy the violations, the court ordered Microsoft to submit a plan to reorganize itself into two separate firms and to comply with transitional injunctive provisions. See Pet. App. A11; J.S. App. A253-A279.
l. On May 18, 1998, the United States filed a civil complaint alleging that Microsoft had engaged in an anticompetitive course of conduct in violation of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. 1, 2. At Microsoft's request, the case was consolidated with a similar action brought by numerous States and the District of Columbia. The United States and the States (collectively, the government) jointly presented the case in a 76-day bench trial that began on October 19, 1998, and ended on June 24, 1999. On November 5, 1999, the court entered 412 findings of fact. On April 3, 2000, after the parties unsuccessfully attempted to settle the suit through mediation, the district court entered its conclusions of law. On June 7, 2000, after further proceedings on remedy, the district court entered its final judgment. See Pet. App. A6, A8-A11; see also J.S. App. A1-A43 (conclusions of law); id. at A46-A246 (findings of fact); id. at A247-A279 (memorandum, order, and final judgment).
The United States filed a civil complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that Microsoft Corporation has engaged in an anticompetitive course of conduct in violation of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C.
The United States filed a civil complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that Microsoft Corporation has engaged in an anticompetitive course of conduct in violation of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. 1, 2.
(The remedy it ordered effectively terminated and prohibited such agreements, however, because they were part of the Section 2 violation.) The court then proceeded to consider a remedy for Microsoft’s antitrust violations, inviting the parties to submit proposals.
THE DISTRICT COURT PROPERLY ORDERED STRUCTURAL AND CONDUCT REMEDIES AND FOLLOWED APPROPRIATE PROCEDURES IN DOING SO Microsoft violated the antitrust laws through a wide range of predatory and exclusionary acts that maintained its operating system monopoly by protecting and raising the applications barrier to entry.
The evidence demonstrated that Microsoft engaged not just in aggressive, lawful competition, but also in predatory conduct to thwart the development of emerging technologies that would allow “applications,” such as word processors, spreadsheets, games, and other useful programs, to be written so they would run on operating systems other than Microsoft’s “Windows” without costly adaptation.
In the past several years, antitrust regulators have ramped up investigations into the market power of large technology companies, just as Microsoft fell under government scrutiny and faced a U.S. antitrust lawsuit more than two decades ago, when Nadella was a rising manager.
DefenseConfirmedYou decide
Microsoft lands $9.7 billion defense contract
Microsoft landed a $9.7 billion defense contract last month for the Pentagon.
The Pentagon is one of Microsoft’s biggest customers. The company has landed major defense contracts since Trump took office, including one for classified AI development and another last month worth $9.7 billion.
Media & the pressConfirmedYou decide
Microsoft funded a $10 million AI collaborative
OpenAI and its minority owner Microsoft are funding a $10 million AI collaborative and fellowship program operated by the Lenfest Institute, a nonprofit that supports local journalism.
OpenAI and its minority owner Microsoft are funding a $10 million AI collaborative and fellowship program operated by the Lenfest Institute, a nonprofit that supports local journalism.
Corporate conductAllegationAgainst
Microsoft is accused of price-fixing pact with Valve
Microsoft is accused of entering a price-fixing pact with Valve, leading to a lawsuit.
Parents with children who play games on their parents' Xbox Live account can create a separate child account, which provides additional privacy protections, such as limits on how Microsoft shares your child's data and only allowing your child to communicate with friends whom you approve in advance.
Corporate conductConfirmedAgainst
Microsoft ties Internet Explorer to Windows
EU Commission closes 2009 investigation into Microsoft tying Internet Explorer to Windows after company offers commitments.
Antitrust: Commission accepts Microsoft commitments to give users browser choice The European Commission has adopted a decision that renders legally binding commitments offered by Microsoft to boost competition on the web browser market.
Brussels, 17 July 2012 Antitrust: Commission opens proceedings against Microsoft to investigate possible non-compliance with browser choice commitments The European Commission has opened proceedings against Microsoft in order to investigate whether the company has failed to comply with its 2009 commitments to offer users a choice screen enabling them to easily choose their preferred web browser.
Commission Vice President in charge of competition policy Joaquín Almunia said: "In 2009, we closed our investigation about a suspected abuse of dominant position by Microsoft due to the tying of Internet Explorer to Wind ows by accepting commitments offered by the company.
In the SO, the Commission sets out evidence and outlines its preliminary conclusion that Microsoft’s tying of Internet Explorer to the Windows operating system harms competition between web browsers, undermines product innovation and ultimately reduces consumer choice.
Workplace equityConfirmedYou decide
Microsoft asks employees to join DEI program
Microsoft asks employees to participate in its diversity and inclusion program.
Controls for how Microsoft personalizes advertising are available at https://choice.live.com (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=286759). We do not use what you say in email, chat, video calls or voice mail, or your documents, photos or other personal files, to target advertising to you.
Labor & working conditionsProposed settlementAgainst
Microsoft reached a $14.4 million settlement with the California Civil Rights Department over alleged parental
View Press Release (PDF) Civil Rights Department Reaches $14.4 Million Settlement with Microsoft Over Alleged Parental and Disability Leave Discrimination.
Through the settlement, CRD and Microsoft were able to avoid what may have been a lengthy and expensive legal battle.
Microsoft Corporation FAQ The California Civil Rights Department (“CRD”) and Microsoft Corporation (“ Microsoft”) have agreed to settle CRD’s complaint against Microsoft.
Microsoft will pay $14M to settle allegations it discriminated against employees who took leave | AP News
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Microsoft Corp. has agreed to pay $14.4 million to settle allegations that the global software giant retaliated and discriminated against employees who took protected leave, including parental and disability, the California Civil Rights Department announced Wednesday.
Individuals who took protected leave and worked at Microsoft in California between May 2017 and the date of the court’s entry of the settlement agreement may be eligible to receive compensation.
The settlement announced today resolves a multi-year investigation into Microsoft over claims of discrimination related to the use of protected leave under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act, the California Family Rights Act, California’s Pregnancy Disability Leave law, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
In a complaint filed by CRD against Microsoft, the department alleged that women and people with disabilities are overrepresented among the group of workers who use these forms of leave and that workers who used protected leave faced unlawful retaliation and discrimination in compensation and promotion opportunities because of their use of the leave.
As part of the settlement, which is subject to court approval, Microsoft has committed to taking a range of proactive steps to prevent future discrimination and provide monetary relief to employees who used protected leave at the company in California between 2017 and 2024.
View Press Release (PDF) Civil Rights Department Reaches $14.4 Million Settlement with Microsoft Over Alleged Parental and Disability Leave Discrimination
Civil Rights Department Reaches $14.4 Million Settlement with Microsoft Over Alleged Parental and Disability Leave Discrimination | CRD
“By allegedly penalizing employees for taking protected forms of leave, Microsoft failed to support workers when they needed to care for themselves or their families.
Civil Rights Department Reaches $14.4 Million Settlement with Microsoft Over Alleged Parental and Disability Leave Discrimination
Note: On August 8, 2024, the court approved the consent decree. A copy of the final consent decree is available here.
We applaud Microsoft for coming to the table and agreeing to make the changes necessary to protect workers in California.” The settlement announced today resolves a multi-year investigation into Microsoft over claims of discrimination related to the use of protected leave under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act, the California Family Rights Act, California’s Pregnancy Disability Leave law, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Civil Rights Department Reaches $14.4 Million Settlement with Microsoft Over Alleged Parental and Disability Leave Discrimination Settlement resolves multi-year investigation into allegations of discrimination in compensation related to the use of protected leave under state and federal civil rights laws SACRAMENTO – The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) today announced reaching a $14,425,000 proposed settlement with the Microsoft Corporation to resolve allegations of retaliation and discrimination against workers based on their use of protected leave, including parental, disability, pregnancy, and family care taking leave.
“By allegedly penalizing employees for taking protected forms of leave, Microsoft failed to support workers when they needed to care for themselves or their families.
In a complaint filed by CRD against Microsoft, the department alleged that women and people with disabilities are overrepresented among the group of workers who use these forms of leave and that workers who used protected leave faced unlawful retaliation and discrimination in compensation and promotion opportunities because of their use of the leave.
As part of the settlement, which is subject to court approval, Microsoft has committed to taking a range of proactive steps to prevent future discrimination and provide monetary relief to employees who used protected leave at the company in California between 2017 and 2024.
Microsoft Corp. has agreed to pay $14.4 million to settle allegations that the global software giant retaliated and discriminated against employees who took protected leave, including parental and disability, the California Civil Rights Department announced Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
Microsoft will pay $14M to settle allegations it discriminated against employees who took leave
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Microsoft Corp. has agreed to pay $14.4 million to settle allegations that the global software giant retaliated and discriminated against employees who took protected leave, including parental and disability, the California Civil Rights Department announced Wednesday.
"By allegedly penalizing employees for taking protected forms of leave, Microsoft failed to support workers when they needed to care for themselves or their families," Kevin Kish, director of California's Civil Rights Department, said in a statement.
Microsoft (MSFT) has reached a $14.4 million settlement with California's Civil Rights Department over claims the company discriminated against employees who were on parental and disability leave.
Microsoft reaches settlement with California over alleged employee discrimination
The agency said that Microsoft "failed to take sufficient action to prevent discrimination from occurring, altering the career trajectory of women, people with disabilities and other employees who worked at the company, ultimately leaving them behind."
The agency accused Microsoft of sex and disability discrimination and interfering with workers' rights to take leave. It was not clear how many workers could benefit from the settlement.
Kevin Kish, the director of the Civil Rights Department, said in a statement that Microsoft failed to support workers when they needed time to care for themselves and their families.
(Reuters) -Microsoft Corp has agreed to pay $14 million to settle a California agency's claims that it illegally penalized workers who took medical or family-care leave, the agency said on Wednesday. The California Civil Rights Department in filings in state court accused the tech giant of retaliating against its California-based employees who used parental, disability, pregnancy and family-care leave since 2017 by denying them raises, promotions and stock awards.
(Reuters) -Microsoft Corp has agreed to pay $14 million to settle a California agency's claims that it illegally penalized workers who took medical or family-care leave, the agency said on Wednesday.
The department also said that Microsoft managers commented negatively about employees who took leave, and that workers reported concerns with retaliation after requesting or taking protected leave
By allegedly penalizing employees for taking protected forms of leave, Microsoft failed to support workers when they needed to care for themselves or their families,” California Civil Rights Department Director Kevin Kish said in a statement.
SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — The California Civil Rights Department announced on Wednesday that Microsoft agreed to pay $14.425 million to settle claims that the tech giant violated state and federal law by retaliating and discriminating against California workers based on their use of protected leave.
The department also said that Microsoft managers commented negatively about employees who took leave, and that workers reported concerns with retaliation after requesting or taking protected leave
SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — The California Civil Rights Department announced on Wednesday that Microsoft agreed to pay $14.425 million to settle claims that the tech giant violated state and federal law by retaliating and discriminating against California workers based on their use of protected leave.
By allegedly penalizing employees for taking protected forms of leave, Microsoft failed to support workers when they needed to care for themselves or their families,” California Civil Rights Department Director Kevin Kish said in a statement.
Microsoft Corp. has agreed to pay $14.4 million to settle allegations that the global software giant retaliated and discriminated against employees who took protected leave, including parental and disability, the California Civil Rights Department announced Wednesday.
Microsoft to pay $14.4-million discrimination settlement - Los Angeles Times
Corporate conductSettlementAgainst
Microsoft settles antitrust lawsuit over ChatGPT subscription prices
Microsoft Corporation settled a lawsuit alleging its deal with OpenAI violated federal antitrust law by artificially raising ChatGPT subscription prices and impacting product quality.
The lawsuit said the deal, which Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) struck in the early days of OpenAI's development, was in violation of the federal antitrust law, as it restrained competition and resulted in artificially driving up ChatGPT's subscription prices, while impacting the product quality for millions of users of the platform.
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Sued by Consumers in Antitrust Class Action over OpenAI Deal
"As a company, we do not tolerate employees and partners who willfully break policies that go to fundamental issues of business integrity." The SEC noted that some Microsoft employees violated the law by engaging in unscrupulous sales practices in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Thailand.
Microsoft is also facing a steep fine after the European Commission, the European Union's antitrust authority, announced last month that the company breached antitrust laws by bundling Teams with its other applications for businesses. The company could be fined up to 10% of its global revenue, which totaled $211 billion in 2023.
Microsoft is also facing a steep fine after the European Commission, the European Union's antitrust authority, announced last month that the company breached antitrust laws by bundling Teams with its other applications for businesses.
Microsoft reaches settlement with California over alleged employee discrimination
AI & automationConfirmedAgainst
Microsoft cuts jobs amid AI automation trend
Microsoft announced job cuts as part of a broader shift toward AI-driven automation in 2025.
Microsoft’s sweeping job cuts echo a wider trend among tech giants in 2025, as companies recalibrate for a post-pandemic market increasingly defined by AI-driven automation.
AI Wipes Out Customer Service Jobs at Microsoft, Uber, CBA - Bloomberg
Corporate conductAllegationAgainst
Federal antitrust enforcers sued to block Microsoft from closing its $69 billion deal to acquire Activision Blizzard
Federal antitrust enforcers have sued to block the $69 billion acquisition that they say will harm competition between Microsoft and gaming industry competitors such as Sony and Nintendo.
Federal antitrust enforcers have sued to block the $69 billion acquisition that they say will harm competition between Microsoft and gaming industry competitors such as Sony and Nintendo.
Privacy & surveillanceConfirmedAgainst
Microsoft joins companies penalized for child data collection
Microsoft joins Amazon, Google, and TikTok in facing FTC penalties for collecting children's data without parental consent.
Microsoft joins the ranks of dozens of other companies, including Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN), Alphabet Inc's (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Google, and ByteDance Ltd's TikTok, who have faced FTC penalties for collecting data on children without parental consent.
AI & automationConfirmedAgainst
Satya Nadella warns of AI job displacement
Satya Nadella warned that AI-driven job displacement is imminent, and companies and workers who ignore it risk being left behind.
The FTC is investigating Microsoft’s cloud computing business and related product lines such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, according to a person who was not authorized to discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Microsoft Faces Broad Antitrust Investigation From US FTC
(Bloomberg) -- The US Federal Trade Commission has opened an antitrust investigation of Microsoft Corp., drilling into everything from the company's cloud computing and software licensing businesses to cybersecurity offerings and artificial intelligence products.
After more than a year of conducting informal interviews with competitors and business partners, antitrust enforcers have crafted a detailed request to force Microsoft to turn over information, according to people familiar with the matter.
After more than a year of conducting informal interviews with competitors and business partners, antitrust enforcers have crafted a detailed request to force Microsoft to turn over information, according to people familiar with the matter.
FTC opens broad antitrust investigation into Microsoft
Federal Trade Commission has opened a broad antitrust investigation into Microsoft, including of its software licensing and cloud computing businesses, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters Wednesday.
FTC opens broad antitrust investigation into Microsoft Add NBC News to Google
Workplace equityConfirmedAgainst
Microsoft faces gender discrimination lawsuit in court
Microsoft is in court with current and former technical employees over gender discrimination claims.
Following the 2008 penalty payment decision Microsoft has posted the interoperability information subject to the decision free of charge on its web site.
In the past, the Commission sometimes had reco urse to prohibition decisions to address anticompetitive conduct, for instance in the case agains t Microsoft regarding server interoperability information and Media Player, or in the Intel case.
Corporate conductRulingAgainst
The European Commission imposed a penalty payment of €280.5 million on Microsoft for continued non-compliance with its obligations under the March 2004 Decision
Competition: Commission imposes penalty payment of €280.5 million on Microsoft for continued non- compliance with March 2004 Decision The European Commission has imposed a penalty payment of €280.5 million on Microsoft for its continued non-compliance with some of its obligations under the Commission’s March 2004 Decision (see IP/04/382).
Competition: Commission imposes penalty payment of €280.5 million on Microsoft for continued non- compliance with March 2004 Decision The European Commission has imposed a penalty payment of €280.5 million on Microsoft for its continued non-compliance with some of its obligations under the Commission’s March 2004 Decision (see IP/04/382).
Climate & energyConfirmedIn favor
Microsoft reduces Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 6.3%
Microsoft reported a 6.3% decrease in its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions compared to 2020.
According to the report, Microsoft’s Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, which are generated by the company’s activities and electricity or heat consumed has decreased by 6.3% compared to 2020.
Climate & energyConfirmedIn favor
Microsoft reduces carbon emissions to 20 million metric tons
Microsoft reduced its carbon emissions to 20 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Editor’s note: A correction was made regarding Microsoft’s total energy use last year, replacing a data point on Scope 2 emission, and clarifying the steps taken to reduce its carbon emissions to 20 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Climate & energyConfirmedAgainst
Microsoft ordered to pay $2.5 million
Virginia environmental officials ordered Microsoft to pay $2.5 million after its Leesburg data center violated air quality standards during a 2025 power grid outage.
LEESBURG, VA – Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality has ordered Microsoft to pay a $2.5 million civil charge for air pollution from a data center it operates in Leesburg.
Microsoft ordered nearly $3M fine for air pollution from Northern Virginia data center
(7News) — Virginia environmental officials ordered tech giant Microsoft on Monday to pay roughly $2.5 million after its Leesburg data center violated air quality standards during a week-long power grid outage in 2025, according to state documents.
6 In the other case involving Microsoft, ba ck in 2004, we did not accept commitments; instead we adopted what we call a Prohib ition Decision and fined the company €497 million.
Israel & PalestineAllegationYou decide
Microsoft is accused of fueling Israeli military aggression
Microsoft is accused of fueling Israeli military aggression in Israel's War on Gaza.
Microsoft also fired two employees last year for holding a vigil for Palestinians killed in Gaza, with the tech giant citing violations of internal policies.
Microsoft has a $133 million contract with the Israeli military to provide the Israeli military with access to OpenAI models through Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing platform.
Tech giants Amazon, Google, and Microsoft provide cloud storage and AI services to the Israeli military, enhancing its capabilities in Israel's war on Gaza.
In May 2025, Microsoft confirmed it was providing cloud and artificial intelligence services to the Israeli military used in Gaza, including software, professional services, Azure cloud and AI services — tools such as language translation.
Amazon, Google & Microsoft fuel Israeli military aggression in Israel's War on Gaza, investigation reveals
USA: Microsoft fires worker who interrupted CEO speech protesting against the company supplying technology to the Israeli military during war on Gaza
Israel/Palestine: Microsoft fires two employees over vigil to commemorate Palestinians killed in Israel's ongoing war on Gaza & highlight Microsoft's complicity
Microsoft has fired two employees who organised a vigil at the company's headquarters for the thousands of Palestinians killed in Gaza during Israel's brutal military onslaught.
Another fired worker, Hossam Nasr, said the purpose of the vigil was both "to honour the victims of the Palestinian genocide in Gaza and to call attention to Microsoft’s complicity in the genocide" because of the use of its technology by the Israeli military...
Amazon, Google & Microsoft fuel Israeli military aggression in Israel's War on Gaza, investigation reveals
USA: Two Microsoft workers fired after protests during 50th anniversary events against the supplying of AI technology to Israel's military amid the genocide in Gaza
USA: Four Microsoft employees fired following protests over the company's ties to Israel's operations in Gaza
Both employees were members of a coalition of employees called "No Azure for Apartheid" that has opposed Microsoft's sale of its cloud-computing technology to the Israeli government.
"Microsoft fires employees over vigil for Palestinians killed in Gaza", 26 October 2024
In August 2025, it was reported that Microsoft had fired four employees after they took part in protests against the company's ties to Israel amid the genocide in Gaza.
USA: Two Microsoft workers fired after protests during 50th anniversary events against the supplying of AI technology to Israel's military amid the genocide in Gaza
USA: Four Microsoft employees fired following protests over the company's ties to Israel's operations in Gaza
...Microsoft has fired four employees after they took part in protests against the company’s ties to Israel amid the ongoing war on Gaza.
USA: Four Microsoft employees fired following protests over the company's ties to Israel's operations in Gaza - Business and Human Rights Centre
USA: Two Microsoft workers fired after protests during 50th anniversary events against the supplying of AI technology to Israel's military amid the genocide in Gaza
USA: Four Microsoft employees fired following protests over the company's ties to Israel's operations in Gaza
One of the two employees fired was Egyptian-raised, Harvard University graduate Hossam Nasr, who said the purpose of the vigil was “to honor the victims of the Palestinian genocide in Gaza and to call attention to Microsoft’s complicity in the genocide”.
“This is what’s happening within Microsoft. People are calling them out, and they’re even refusing to engage and look at serious concerns that come with the use of these technologies.”
The group demands Microsoft sever all Azure contracts and partnerships with the Israeli military and government, disclose all ties with Israel, call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the conflict in Gaza, and protect and uphold the free speech of employees.
“Microsoft really crumbled under pressure, internally and externally, to fire me and to shut down and retaliate against our event, not because of policy violations, simply because we were daring to humanize Palestinians, and simply because we were daring to say that Microsoft should not be complicit with an army that is plausibly accused of genocide,” said Nasr, who has been criticized on social media and in internal Microsoft employee communication groups over his support for Palestine.
Two Microsoft employees who were fired last week after organizing a vigil for Palestinians killed in Gaza say the company retaliated against them for their pro-Palestinian activism.
WASHINGTON — Microsoft has fired four employees who participated in protests on company premises against the firm’s ties to Israel as it wages war on Hamas in Gaza, including two who took part in a sit-in this week at the office of the company’s president.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported Tuesday that Microsoft has taken multiple steps to contain pro-Palestinian employee activism, including contacting the FBI, cooperating with local authorities, deleting internal content and firing protest leaders.
Corporate conductConfirmedAgainst
Microsoft walks away from Caledonia proposal
Microsoft walked away from a proposal before Caledonia's top officials could vote on it.
Microsoft’s continued facilitation of new oil and gas extraction through advanced technology exposes it to material reputational, competitive, and operational risk.
Wages & economic policyConfirmedAgainst
Microsoft sold IP to Puerto Rican factory
Microsoft sold its intellectual property to a factory it owned in a small Puerto Rican city in 2005.
The IRS has said Microsoft hired accounting firm KPMG to set up a cost-sharing arrangement with the Puerto Rican affiliate that shifted taxable revenue out of the U.S.
In 2005, ProPublica wrote, Microsoft “sold its most valuable possession—its intellectual property—to an 85-person factory it owned in a small Puerto Rican city.”
Climate & energyConfirmedYou decide
Microsoft partners with oil industry for natural gas
Microsoft enters a partnership with the oil industry to invest in natural gas for its electricity needs.
Microsoft's embrace of natural gas through a partnership with the oil industry shows a willingness to invest in fossil fuels to meet its electricity needs.
Corporate conductConfirmedAgainst
Microsoft shares investigation facts with authorities
Microsoft voluntarily shared facts from its internal investigation and produced translated documents.
Microsoft’s cooperation included timely sharing of facts developed during the course of an internal investigation and voluntarily producing and translating documents.
Workplace equityConfirmedIn favor
Microsoft reports 54.8% minority workforce
Microsoft reported that 54.8% of its core workforce consists of racial and ethnic minorities in its 2023 diversity report.
In its 2023 diversity report, Microsoft reported about 54.8% of its core workforce is made up of racial and ethnic minorities, which is in line in part to rivals such as Apple and Google.
Workplace equityConfirmedIn favor
Microsoft reports 4.4% Black workforce
Microsoft reported that 4.4% of its total workforce was Black in its 2019 diversity report.
Consequently, Microsoft violated Section 13(a) and Rules 13a-1, 13a-13 and 12b-20 promulgated thereunder.
Corporate conductSettlementAgainst
Microsoft Hungary, a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation
(Microsoft Hungary), a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation, has agreed to pay a criminal fine of more than $8.7 million to resolve the government’s investigation into violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) arising out of a bid rigging and bribery scheme in connection with the sale of Microsoft software licenses to Hungarian government agencies and the false recording of the corrupt payments as legitimate customer discounts on Microsoft Corporation’s financial records.
The Justice Department concluded that between 2013 and June 2015 "a senior executive and some other employees at Microsoft Hungary participated in a scheme to inflate margins in the Microsoft sales channel, which were used to fund improper payments under the FCPA," Smith wrote in the email.
Prosecutors said the savings should have gone to customers, but were instead used by intermediary resellers in part to pay bribes to government officials, with Microsoft recording the discounts as legitimate business expenses.
According to Microsoft Hungary’s admissions, beginning by at least 2013 and continuing until at least 2015, a senior executive and other employees of Microsoft Hungary participated in a scheme to inflate margins in the Microsoft sales channel in connection with the sale of Microsoft software licenses to Hungarian government agencies.
(Microsoft Hungary), a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation, has agreed to pay a criminal penalty of more than $8.7 million to resolve the government’s investigation into violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) arising out of a bid rigging and bribery scheme in connection with the sale of Microsoft software licenses to Hungarian government agencies.
These intermediaries purchase the licenses from Microsoft Hungary, then resell the licenses to the end customers.
(Microsoft Hungary), a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation, has agreed to pay a criminal fine of more than $8.7 million to resolve the government’s investigation into violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) arising out of a bid rigging and bribery scheme in connection with the sale of Microsoft software licenses to Hungarian government agencies and the false recording of the corrupt payments as legitimate customer discounts on Microsoft Corporation’s financial records.
In furtherance of that scheme, certain Microsoft Hungary executives and employees falsely represented to Microsoft that steep discounts were necessary to conclude deals with resellers who bid for the opportunity to sell Microsoft licenses to government customers.
Beginning at least 2013 and continuing until at least 2015, senior executives and other employees of Microsoft Hungary participated in a bribery and bid rigging scheme in connection with the sale of Microsoft software licenses to Hungarian government agencies.
Corporate conductSettlementAgainst
Microsoft settlement over financial law
The SEC's order found that Microsoft violated the books and records and internal accounting controls provisions of Sections 13(b)(2)(A) and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
The SEC's order found that Microsoft violated the books and records and internal accounting controls provisions of Sections 13(b)(2)(A) and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Without admitting or denying the SEC's findings, Microsoft consented to a cease-and-desist order and agreed to pay disgorgement of $13,780,733 and prejudgment interest of $2,784,418.
Microsoft Hungary has also agreed to pay a criminal fine of $8,751,795 as part of a non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice related to causing books and records violations of the FCPA.
Microsoft Hungary has also agreed to pay a criminal fine of $8,751,795 as part of a non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice related to causing books and records violations of the FCPA.
Without admitting or denying the SEC's findings, Microsoft consented to a cease-and-desist order and agreed to pay disgorgement of $13,780,733 and prejudgment interest of $2,784,418.
The SEC's order found that Microsoft violated the books and records and internal accounting controls provisions of Sections 13(b)(2)(A) and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Corporate conductSettlementAgainst
Microsoft settlement over financial law
Microsoft to Pay Over $3.3M in Total Combined Civil Penalties to BIS and OFAC to Resolve Alleged and Apparent Violations of U.S. Export Controls and Sanctions.
Microsoft to Pay Over $3.3M in Total Combined Civil Penalties to BIS and OFAC to Resolve Alleged and Apparent Violations of U.S. Export Controls and Sanctions | U.S. Department of the Treasury
Settlement Agreement between the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control and Microsoft Corporation
Microsoft to Pay Over $3.3M in Total Combined Civil Penalties to BIS and OFAC to Resolve Alleged and Apparent Violations of U.S. Export Controls and Sanctions