The president of Microsoft wants to create a digital Geneva Convention

[William Gayde]

There are international regulations and agreed upon laws for how a nation is supposed to act during peace and wartime. This means protecting the rights of citizens and other civilians during a time of conflict. These policies were created back at the Geneva Convention following World War II, but Microsoft president Brad Smith now wants 21st century version for digital warfare.

Tech companies are put in a difficult position when their hardware is used in a cyber attack. In light of this, Smith believes technology must be "100% defense and 0% offense." The keynote speech calling for this "digital Geneva Convention" was given at the RSA security conference. This could be interpreted as saying that tech companies should not aid any government in designing exploits, vulnerabilities, backdoors, or any type of attack aimed at other nations. Instead, they should focus their efforts on securing their products against misuse.

Smith proposed establishing practices and procedures for how fellow tech companies should react and deal with cyber attacks aimed at civilians.

A governing body would be created to oversee the industry to ensure the tech sector remains open and neutral. Microsoft's President emphasized his view that the industry should "not aid in attacking customers anywhere" and that they "need to retain the world's trust."

Tech companies must be the first to respond when cyber attacks happen, but they "cannot and must not, respond in kind, or aid governments in going on the offensive" Smith stated.

The keynote comes amid increasingly high profile privacy and security issues around the globe. The North Korean hack of Sony Pictures and Russia's alleged involvement in the 2016 U.S. presidential election have been worrisome to tech leaders since they represent cross-border attacks.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/68159-president-microsoft-wants-create-digital-geneva-convention.html

 

[Tanstar]

All they have to do to ensure phones aren't used nefariously is ensure they can't send out a signal. Likewise, if computers couldn't run simulations or communicate with other computers they'd be safe too.

I'll start working on some prototypes. Anyone got a 5 gallon bucket of water and want in on the research?

 

[psycros]

All they have to do to ensure phones aren't used nefariously is ensure they can't send out a signal. Likewise, if computers couldn't run simulations or communicate with other computers they'd be safe too.

I'll start working on some prototypes. Anyone got a 5 gallon bullet of water and want in on the research?

"5 gallon bullet"? Another victim of spellcheck, I'd wager. Still no idea what a bucket of water has to do with the tongue-in-cheek analysis, though. Now here's MY take:

"This could be interpreted as saying that tech companies should not aid any government in designing exploits, vulnerabilities, backdoors, or any type of attack aimed at other nations. Instead, they should focus their efforts on securing their products against misuse."

So does this mean Microsoft is going to get rid of the red carpet extending from their servers to the NSA?

 

[Tanstar]

"5 gallon bullet"? Another victim of spellcheck, I'd wager. Still no idea what a bucket of water has to do with the tongue-in-cheek analysis, though.

I am going to dump a laptop and smart phone into said bucket.

 

[Lurker101]

So does this mean Microsoft is going to get rid of the red carpet extending from their servers to the NSA?

No, it means they want people to think they're no longer extending that red carpet, to entice more customers to install their shiny new red carpet OS with tiles and ad laden solitaire.

 

[Axle Grease]

China, Russia, and Iran will take no heed irrespective of its contents, and neither will ANY government when wanting top level information on another. Some hack attacks are good. For instance, taking down sites that promote Jihad, and ones that lift information from corrupt governments and businesses and make it public. Without the good ones the U.S. would have Hillary for POTUS and Julian Assange would be out of a job.

 

[captaincranky]

OK, this guy just wants to establish a reputation of public concern, the same as Bill Gates did, AFTER his retirement.

I'm about 99% certain, this is just a bullsh!t diversionary tactic, to take the heat off his creepy new CEO, and M$'s strong arm tactics about demanding everyone move to Windows 10.

They've tried all the brute force tactics they can think off, and now they're trying to pass themselves off as "humanitarians"./

"Humanitarians" my a**!

I wish the UIS Attorney's Office would initiate a "RICO" action against M$, Intel, and AMD for the blatant collusion involving trying and accepting the idea that new hardware has to only be compatible with Windows 10.

 

[Axle Grease]

OK, this guy just wants to establish a reputation of public concern, the same as Bill Gates did, AFTER his retirement.

I'm about 99% certain, this is just a bullsh!t diversionary tactic, to take the heat off his creepy new CEO, and M$'s strong arm tactics about demanding everyone move to Windows 10.

They've tried all the brute force tactics they can think off, and now they're trying to pass themselves off as "humanitarians"./

"Humanitarians" my a**!

I wish the UIS Attorney's Office would initiate a "RICO" action against M$, Intel, and AMD for the blatant collusion involving trying and accepting the idea that new hardware has to only be compatible with Windows 10.

Yes... George Bernard Shaw was a humanitarian and he wanted to execute people that where deemed to add no value to Society, but humanly of course, with the use of gas, as he was a humanitarian. What a lovely chap.