Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft) has announced plans to expand its cloud datacenter operations to Saudi Arabia, despite concerns raised by the U.S. State Department's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices regarding the country's human rights challenges. The expansion is part of Microsoft's longstanding relationship with the U.S. Department of Defense, with a history of over four decades of providing technology to the military. Microsoft's decision to proceed with the expansion is guided by its Global Human Rights Statement and involves conducting human rights due diligence in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The company has conducted extensive reviews, including country-level human rights impact assessments (HRIAs), to identify potential human...Show More

Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft) has announced plans to expand its cloud datacenter operations to Saudi Arabia, despite concerns raised by the U.S. State Department's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices regarding the country's human rights challenges. The expansion is part of Microsoft's longstanding relationship with the U.S. Department of Defense, with a history of over four decades of providing technology to the military. Microsoft's decision to proceed with the expansion is guided by its Global Human Rights Statement and involves conducting human rights due diligence in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The company has conducted extensive reviews, including country-level human rights impact assessments (HRIAs), to identify potential human rights risks associated with the datacenter's siting, construction, operation, and use. Microsoft has also committed to the Trusted Cloud Principles, which require adherence to internationally recognized rule of law and human rights standards. The company's approach to datacenter expansion includes excluding certain types of services, technologies, and customers to mitigate potential risks to privacy and security. Microsoft's efforts are part of its broader commitment to providing technology to all industries to help address the global energy trilemma of environmental sustainability, resilience for energy security, and justice for energy equity.