Get Ready to Vote
2024 is a world record year for voting, with elections taking place in countries spanning the globe. The U.S. election takes place on Tuesday, November 5. There is still time to register to vote, put up a yard sign, and even volunteer for a campaign. We encourage everyone who is eligible to cast their ballot and be part of American democracy. Here are public resources to register, learn about early voting, find your polling place, and more:
- Vote.gov
- Voting and elections (from USA.gov)
Microsoft helps support election security by providing information and technical training to campaigns, but the company does not endorse candidates or parties.
Join the Conversation
We expect 2025 to be a busy year for tech policy. We encourage Microsoft Alumni Network members to be part of the conversation by signing up for Voices for Innovation.
Microsoft Shines Light on Foreign Election Interference Efforts
Last month, the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center (MTAC) released a new report detailing the political campaign influence operations from specific nation-state groups around the world. The report focuses on disinformation campaigns and hacking efforts originating from Iran, Russia, and China. In a summary blog, Clint Watts, General Manager of MTAC, writes that Microsoft’s goal in releasing election reports this year “is to underscore the importance of combating election deepfakes and promoting education and learning about possible foreign interference.”
Related: ICYMI, in our August Tech Policy Roundup, we highlighted Microsoft’s policy recommendations for combatting deepfake fraud. See this blog and this report for more information.
Judge Rules Against Google in Historic Antitrust Case
In a closely watched antitrust case, a U.S. District Court Judge ruled that Google had abused its monopoly power in search. “Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly,” Judge Amit P. Mehta wrote in a 277-page ruling.
Filed in 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice suit was joined by 38 state attorneys general. Google says it will appeal the ruling. Google faces a second antitrust lawsuit over its ad technology. The federal government has also filed antitrust suits against Amazon, Apple, and Meta. The Google ruling was widely covered in the press; see Associated Press, Reuters, CNN, and Politico.
Ensuring a healthy, competitive technology marketplace is a priority for Voices for Innovation. You can learn more on VFI’s Antitrust and Competition issue page.