Thursday, June 26, 2003
SEATTLE (AP) -- Since Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates sent a memo 18 months ago urging the company to focus on making its software trustworthy, the company has devoted developers and money to security in its software products.
But Microsoft has given short shrift to a second concern outlined in the so-called "Trustworthy Computing" memo -- protecting privacy -- except when forced by the government. With the hiring of a new privacy chief, the software company is hoping to improve its privacy record and keep government regulators at bay.
Peter Cullen will join Microsoft July 14 as its chief privacy strategist, leaving his position as corporate privacy officer for Royal Bank of Canada. Cullen is replacing former chief privacy officer Richard Purcell, who left earlier this year. It's an encouraging step for a company that has not always had a good record on privacy issues, said Beth Givens, director of San Diego-based Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.
Microsoft has needed government prodding in the past to make changes, she noted, but she is seeing changes since Gates' memo urging the company to focus on making its software more secure from attacks and giving people control over their personal data.