Share this article
Latest news
With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low
Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app
Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities
Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount
Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier
Microsoft gears up for future tech regulations with expanded ‘legal affairs unit’
2 min. read
Published onJune 29, 2021
published onJune 29, 2021
Share this article
Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more
According toa report from Axios, Microsoft president Brad Smith explained the company’s plan to expand its legal and corporate affairs unit by as much as 20 percent ahead of potential regulation battles.
While Microsoft usually goes through an annual reorg during most summers to optimize company resources by streamlining divisional overhead, this summer’s effort looks to focus on primarily on shielding the company from as much regulatory blowback as possible by going on a hiring blitz.
When interviewed, Smith relayed the intentions behind its new July 1, 2021, blitzkrieg hiring effort as,
This reflects a conclusion that this decade will bring expanded tech regulation around the world. As I sometimes put it inside the company, the 2020s will bring to tech what the 1930s brought to financial services.
More specifically, Microsoft plans to announce on Tuesday that its general counsel Dev Stahlkopf will be departing the company’s top legal role to pursue opportunities elsewhere while, Lisa Tanzi and Hossein Nowbar get promoted to new positions that involve policy implementation and overseeing litigation, compliance, and intellectual property.
In addition to its legal shuffles, Microsoft will also give its chief privacy officer and former FTC commissioner Julie Brill oversight of the company’s regulatory governance division.
Two weeks ago, the United States Congress introduced five newbi-partisan approved antitrust billsintended to limit the ‘power’ of big tech, all of which puts Microsoft back under the anticompetitive microscope.
Leading headlines regarding Microsoft and the new antitrust legislation was a communication between Ohio Republican representative Jim Jordan’s letter to Brad Smith calling into question the company’s overall competitive position in the market against its ability to regulate its users’ behaviors.
While shifting market shares have allowed Microsoft to fly relatively under the radar as of late while its competitors in Google, Amazon and even Facebook took heat for anticompetitive behaviors, Congress’ reexamining of the tech industry could seat Microsoft back into similar late 90’s antitrust regulations and setbacks soon.
Kareem Anderson
Networking & Security Specialist
Kareem is a journalist from the bay area, now living in Florida. His passion for technology and content creation drives are unmatched, driving him to create well-researched articles and incredible YouTube videos.
He is always on the lookout for everything new about Microsoft, focusing on making easy-to-understand content and breaking down complex topics related to networking, Azure, cloud computing, and security.
User forum
0 messages
Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes
Comment*
Name*
Email*
Commenting as.Not you?
Save information for future comments
Comment
Δ
Kareem Anderson
Networking & Security Specialist
He is a journalist from the bay area, now living in Florida. He breaks down complex topics related to networking, Azure, cloud computing, and security
