Microsoft extends EU GDPR privacy rights to users worldwide

The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into effect on May 25, introducing new data privacy regulations that businesses must comply with when handling data from users in the EU.

Although companies are not obligated to apply new data privacy regulations to users worldwide, Microsoft recently announced that it will maintain GDPR privacy rights for all users, regardless of location.

In a recent blog post highlighting Microsoft’s efforts, Microsoft Corporate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel Julie Brill wrote:

“We have been advocating for a national privacy law in the United States since 2005, and we are heartened to see that some other technology companies are also beginning to support the need to address this issue. As the debate continues about how to protect people’s privacy, we are committed to taking concrete steps now to better protect people’s privacy.

That’s why today we’re announcing that we’re extending core GDPR rights to all consumer customers around the world. These rights, known as data subject rights, include the right to know what data we collect about you, the right to rectify or delete that data, and even the right to take it elsewhere. Our Privacy Dashboard gives you the tools you need to take control of your data. ”

In addition to extending GDPR rights to all users worldwide, Microsoft has also updated its Privacy Statement to reflect that decision. This move is quite significant for Microsoft. Microsoft has been criticized in the past for collecting telemetry data from Windows 10 users (see below).

With new privacy rights coming into effect, Microsoft has made significant changes to the way it processes customer data, giving Windows 10 users more control over the data collected.

Anant Maheshwari, president of Microsoft India, confirmed that the new GDPR privacy rights will be extended to Indian citizens as well . Maheshwari argues that the new privacy rights not only give Indian users more control over their data, but also represent an opportunity for India. In a blog post on the issue, Maheshwari wrote: As millions of people go online for the first time, protecting their vulnerabilities cannot be compromised in our long journey forward. Last year, India’s Supreme Court demonstrated its commitment to the public by declaring privacy a fundamental right, and now, as an industry, we have a responsibility to play our part. ”

It’s worth noting that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made similar statements, arguing that the social media platform extends GDPR privacy rights to users around the world. However, it was later revealed that the company was changing its policies to keep new features away from users outside the EU.