A week after we learned that Microsoft discovered who was distributing its products before their official launch by opening Hotmail account, the company said it would update the service's terms of use.
The company said it would contact authorities if it needed to access a user's email account for security reasons, rather than doing so covertly, as it has done so far. The news came in a blog post onFriday.
“Over the past week, we have had the opportunity to further examine this issue, and the result of the discussions we have had with ourselves, with legal teams, and other experts, has been to decide to take an additional step and make a significant change to our privacy terms,” wrote Brad Smith, a company executive.
"Effective immediately, if we receive information indicating that someone is using our services to distribute stolen files, Microsoft will not review the customer's content," it said.
[one_third]“Instead, we will refer the matter to the authorities, if further action is required.”[/one_third]
"Instead, it will refer the matter to the authorities if further action is required.".
Microsoft said it will inform users of the service of this change over the coming months, so that it is “clear to consumers and a commitment from Microsoft.”
Smith also said that in a post-Snowden era, Microsoft argues that governments should rely on formal legal processes and the rule of law for surveillance activities.
In good faith, it's a very good start from the company that after last week's revelations found itself exposed to the entire online community. This fact is especially important, considering that the Redmond company has accused Google of its practices of monitoring its users' emails, often stating that it violates personal freedoms.
