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URL: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/corporate-responsibility/trusted-technology-group/tech-for-society

⇱ Tech for Society | Microsoft

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Tech for Society

We use technology to strengthen the institutions and values that help societies thrive by supporting secure elections, a vibrant media ecosystem, and respect for human rights and justice worldwide.

Our approach

We apply technology and proven processes to secure elections, support journalists, and promote responsible business and community safety.

Journalism

Healthy democracies need strong information ecosystems. We create partnerships to strengthen local journalism and build trust in media.

Driving AI transformation in local news

Local news is vital to thriving communities, but economic pressures are straining newsrooms. With partners like the Lenfest Institute, we help outlets adopt technology, build viable business models, and expand access to trusted information.

Cultivating AI skills for journalists

As the news sector faces economic volatility and evolving technology, strong leadership is critical. Microsoft supports CUNY Newmark’s tuition-free programs training editors and innovators in generative AI, ethics, and human-centered design.

Driving publisher sustainability

As local publishers compete for audience attention, innovative tools matter. Microsoft supports companies like Nota that create advanced newsletter and social media technologies and promote responsible AI.

Elections and societal resilience

We empower people to participate in civic life, harnessing technology to support and defend global elections and foster resilient societies.

Safeguarding democratic processes

Protecting the digital infrastructure that underpins democratic institutions is crucial to secure operations and defense against cyberattacks. Our offerings support election offices, campaigns, political technology vendors, and other critical groups in building resilience against sophisticated and emerging threats.

Civic engagement

Democracy depends on participation. Every citizen deserves to have their voice heard, and civic engagement is a cornerstone of a resilient, democratic society. We promote voter education in our products, encourage voter registration with our brands, and enable our employees to advocate on the issues that matter most to them.

Information literacy

To empower people to navigate today’s AI-driven information landscape with confidence, we partner with Microsoft teams and external collaborators to advance digital information literacy. Together, we build learning experiences that strengthen AI literacy, foster critical thinking, and inspire effective, responsible engagement with AI.

Justice and community safety

Advancing societal impact in the justice system by supporting the responsible use of AI.

AI for societal impact

We partner with justice organizations to apply responsible AI solutions that strengthen accountability and improve public safety. 

Convenings and trainings

We bring justice stakeholders together through hands-on trainings and events that build practical skills for deploying AI responsibly.

Knowledge hubs

We support groups of AI experts that guide national justice, public safety, and security leaders in adopting responsible AI.

Responsible business practices

Microsoft is committed to respecting human rights across our value chain through transparent and responsible business practices.

Responsible governance and standards

We embed responsibility into our business practices through strong governance, clear standards, accountability, and the responsible use of AI-enabled tools—promoting trust, integrity, and respect for human rights.

Human rights due diligence and accountability

We apply human rights due diligence across our business by identifying risks, addressing impacts, and helping provide pathways to remedy, while continuously strengthening and advancing our overall approach.

Transparency, engagement, and trusted innovation

Through transparency, engagement, and collaboration, we share progress, lessons learned, and practical insights to help advance trusted innovation across the broader technology ecosystem.

Featured stories

Deploying AI in South African newsrooms

Securing US elections from nation-state adversaries

Protecting older adults from AI-enabled fraud

Combating AI deepfakes in elections

Microsoft stands with leaders across the tech sector to protect elections and ensure voters retain the right to choose who governs them, free of AI-based manipulation.

Microsoft announces new steps to protect elections

Microsoft committed to help protect critical elections in 2024. These commitments were grounded in principles to help safeguard voters, candidates and campaigns, and election authorities worldwide.

Addressing deepfakes ahead of EU elections

Microsoft protected the integrity of the democratic process during the 2024 European Parliament elections by helping political parties, campaigns, news organizations, and voters safeguard against AI-based manipulation, especially deepfakes.

The next frontier in elections

The Election Technology Initiative (ETI), formed by the Council of State Governments, selected Microsoft’s ElectionGuard as its first project.

Expanding AccountGuard to counter growing cyber threats in Africa

To counter a rise in nation-state cyber threats, Microsoft expanded AccountGuard to Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, offering free cybersecurity protections, threat alerts, and support to NGOs, journalists, and democratic institutions.