Our approach
We work to preserve, protect, and advance the fundamentals of democracy by safeguarding open and secure democratic processes, promoting a healthy information ecosystem, and advocating for corporate civic responsibility.
Open and secure democratic processes
Though threats to democracy have always existed, the tactics of adversaries are constantly evolving. At Microsoft, we believe that the electoral process should be open and secure.
Critical institution security
Those who participate in advancing civil society, whether in the political realm, or as a non-profit, think-tank, journalist, or human rights organization, are consistently targets of nation-state cyberattacks. Microsoft is committed to providing services and technology to help them protect themselves.
Election integrity
Democratic elections around the world remain a top target for cyberattacks and misinformation. We work closely with our customers to provide them with guidance and tools to protect themselves from these threats.
Threat intelligence
The next year may bring unprecedented challenges for the protection of elections as authoritarian nation-states seek to interfere in electoral processes. The Microsoft Threat Assessment Center (MTAC) publishes reports on this foreign malign influence.
Healthy information ecosystem
Microsoft is dedicated to supporting a healthy information ecosystem where trusted news and information thrive.
Preserving journalism
Healthy democracies require healthy journalism. Technology has played a role in the disruption of news, but it can also be an important part of the rebuilding effort.
Trusted sources
Today, information operations pose one of the most serious cyber threats and risks weakening the foundations of democracies worldwide. Technology and the Internet have played a part in the rise of this threat and should also be significant tools in combatting it.
Information literacy
Being an informed citizen is critical to participatory democracy; however, navigating the modern digital landscape for trusted news and information is complex. Finding, consuming, and sharing trusted information is an important skill, so more resources, tools, and educational efforts are required.
Our Information Integrity Principles
Microsoft has adopted four principles to support and advance trusted information.
Freedom of expression
We will respect freedom of expression and uphold our customers’ ability to create, publish, and search for information via our platforms, products, and services.
Authoritative content
We will prioritize surfacing content to counter foreign cyber influence operations by utilizing internal and trusted third-party data on our products.
Demonetization
We will not willfully profit from foreign cyber influence content or actors.
Proactive efforts
We will proactively work to prevent our platforms and products from being used to amplify foreign cyber influence sites and content.
Corporate civic responsibility
Democracy draws its power from the participation of its citizens. An informed and civically literate electorate is critical to the stability and functioning of democracy.
Employee engagement
Microsoft created an Employee Civic Engagement Hub that enables staff to learn, engage, and activate on Microsoft’s Corporate Social Responsibility priorities. Here, employees can get resources on how to vote, explore participating in the civic life of their communities, and find civic organizations to volunteer with or donate to.
Consumer engagement
Microsoft utilizes consumer-facing properties and products to promote civic engagement, voter registration, and civic education. Through services like Microsoft Start, Bing, LinkedIn, and Xbox, we make it easier for our users to register to vote and find authoritative voting information.
Corporate civic engagement
Civic literacy and civic engagement are critical to protecting democracy, and for our efforts to be effective, the whole business community must be involved. We partner with nonprofits and our peer companies to build effective coalitions and promote these important issues publicly.
Featured news
Combating AI deepfakes in elections
Microsoft has joined leaders across the tech sector to stand together to protect elections and ensure that voters retain the right to choose who governs them, free of AI-based manipulation.
Microsoft announces new steps to protect elections
Microsoft has committed to help protect critical elections in 2024. These commitments are grounded in principles to help safeguard voters, candidates and campaigns, and election authorities worldwide.
Rebuilding local news
Three years ago, Microsoft launched a journalism initiative to explore how to address the crisis facing independent local news organizations. Learn how our guidebook provides independent local news organizations with the strategies, tools, and support they need.
Additional stories
Addressing deepfakes ahead of EU elections
During the 2024 European Parliament elections, the threat of AI-based manipulation – especially deepfakes – was a concern. Microsoft helped political parties, campaigns, news organizations, and voters safeguard the integrity of democratic processes.
Societal Resilience Fund
Microsoft and OpenAI announced the launch of a $2 million Societal Resilience Fund to further AI education and literacy among voters and vulnerable communities.
Content Integrity tools for elections
Our Content Integrity tools help organizations such as political campaigns and newsrooms send a signal that the content someone sees online is verifiably from their organization.
Creating newsrooms of the future
In a year where billions of people will vote in democratic elections worldwide, journalism is critical to creating healthy information ecosystems, and it is our mission to ensure that newsrooms can innovate to serve this year and in the future.
The next frontier in elections
Recently, the Council of State Governments announced the formation of a new Election Technology Initiative (ETI), of which Microsoft’s ElectionGuard will be its first project.
Democracy depends on information literacy
In this challenging information environment, we believe that empowering consumers with the tools to find, consume, and share authoritative information is critical to supporting healthy information ecosystems and, therefore, thriving democracies.
Early lessons from Ukraine’s cyber war
Ongoing threat intelligence efforts in the war between Russia and Ukraine reinforce the need for new investments in technology, data, and partnerships to support governments, companies, NGOs, and universities.
Contact us
If you would like to learn more about Microsoft Democracy Forward or any of the corresponding programs, please contact us using this form.
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