Microsoft’s response re reports on its supposed announcement to comply with Russian

27 Jan 2014

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Microsoft to respond to the following items:

- “Skype agrees to share information with Russian authorities”, Moscow Times, 16 Jan 2014, http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/skype-agrees-to-share-information-with- russian-authorities/492864.html - “Skype ready to share users' data with Russian police”, Voice of Russia, 16 Jan 2014, http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_01_16/Skype-ready-to-share-users-data-with-Russian- police-9493/

Microsoft sent us the following response:

“The reporting about Microsoft’s position on this issue is inaccurate. Microsoft has not commented on draft legislation in the Russian State Duma or committed to share customer data with the Russian authorities. We have clear principles in responding to legal demands for customer information from governments around the world. In particular we review the applicability of any new local laws given that many of our internet services don’t store or process data locally”. (Microsoft spokesperson)