Microsoft makes policy recommendations for the fourth industrial revolution

Microsoft has published as updated version of its A Cloud for Global Good policy roadmap, originally released in October 2016. The 2018 edition reflects recent developments in areas such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning, and contains several policy recommendations for ‘governments, industry and civil society to consider as they realise the opportunities and address the challenges presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution’. These recommendations are clustered in three broad categories. The ‘Trusted cloud’ category contains recommendations about protecting personal privacy, government access to data, promoting the free-flow of data, ensuring secure and reliable infrastructure, creating a Digital Geneva Convention, and preventing cybercrime. Under ‘Responsible cloud’ are recommendations focused on protecting both human rights and public safety, reducing technology fraud and online exploitation, promoting environmental sustainability, and amplifying human ingenuity through AI. The third cluster ‘Inclusive cloud’ outlines recommendations targeted at providing affordable connectivity everywhere, preparing people for the new world of work, and including people with disabilities.