around technology and regulation . That quickly changed , in part due to the 2016 US election and the Cambridge Analytica scandal , and in recent years the debate has gained a lot of momentum . As a Dane , I am proud of the impact a small country like Denmark had on moving that forward ,” Ekman says .
For example , it is continuously discussed at a political level how to regulate the use of artificial intelligence so users can be sure that their data is handled correctly . That ’ s an area where Microsoft is investing a lot of time and resources .
“ Being part of shaping the technologies of tomorrow , like Microsoft is , comes with huge influence on society and therefore also huge responsibilities : Both to protect the democratic values and human rights that we ’ ve fought so many years to achieve . But also , to ensure that all citizens get equal access to the opportunities digitalisation holds , regardless of where they live or who they are . In Denmark , we have a long tradition of finding the right balance between regulation and allowing space for innovation and growth , which in turn gives huge societal rewards . I think Denmark can play a crucial role in shaping tech policy – also within Europe ,” Ekman says .
Transparency is key If you ask Ekman what the most important thing for global tech companies will be in the coming years , the answer is clear : Transparency when it comes to business models and actions in order to inform rules and regulation . Microsoft has already started . For example , the company is at the top of the list in The Verge Tech Trust Survey from 2019 where three out of four Americans trust that Microsoft handle their personal information . Despite coming first , it still leaves a quarter of Americans showing distrust .
Ekman points out that it is natural that there is scepticism in relation to global tech companies in a time where there is a lot of debate about technology ’ s role in society .
“ First and foremost , I ’ m happy that the company I work for is the top scorer in surveys and research about trust : That there is the general feeling that Microsoft walks the talk . That ’ s also my personal takeaway after joining Microsoft only a few months ago . Although Microsoft is also facing many challenges , we work extremely hard to serve our customers the best way we can . And that is very much about being transparent ,” Ekman says .
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Mikael Ekman , Microsoft , Director for Policy and Strategy in Denmark and Iceland
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