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How bad is Microsoft?
(www.gnu.org)
1. Monopolistic business practices to crush competition (Netscape, Java, web browsers, etc.).
- Microsoft was found guilty of maintaining an illegal monopoly and engaging in anti-competitive tactics against competitors like Netscape Navigator and Java in the 1990s antitrust case.
2. Illegal bundling of Internet Explorer with Windows to eliminate browser rivals.
- The U.S. government accused Microsoft of illegally bundling Internet Explorer with Windows to crush competition from other web browsers. Microsoft was found guilty of this tying arrangement.
3. Keeping useful Windows APIs secret from third-party developers to disadvantage competitors.
- Microsoft allegedly kept useful Windows APIs secret from third-party developers to give an advantage to their own applications, though this was not a central part of the antitrust case.
4. Embracing proprietary software and vendor lock-in tactics to prevent users from switching.
- Microsoft has been criticized for embracing proprietary software and vendor lock-in tactics that make it difficult for users to switch to alternatives, such as their failed attempts to establish OOXML as an open standard for Office documents.
5. "Embrace, Extend, Extinguish" strategy against open source software.
- Microsoft has been accused of using the "Embrace, Extend, Extinguish" strategy against open source software to undermine adoption of open standards. This is also shown in the leaked Halloween documents.
6. Privacy violations through excessive data collection, user tracking, and sharing data with third parties.
- Microsoft has faced scrutiny over privacy issues, such as the NSA surveillance scandal and their handling of user data with Windows 10.
7. Complicity in enabling government surveillance and spying on user data (PRISM scandal).
- The PRISM surveillance scandal revealed Microsoft's complicity in enabling government spying on user data.
8. Deliberately making hardware/software incompatible with open source alternatives.
- Microsoft has been accused of deliberately making hardware and software incompatible with open source alternatives through restrictive licensing requirements.
9. Anti-competitive acquisitions to eliminate rivals or control key technologies (GitHub, LinkedIn, etc.).
- Microsoft has acquired many companies over the years, sometimes in an effort to eliminate competition or gain control over key technologies and platforms.
10. Unethical contracts providing military technology like HoloLens for warfare applications.
- Microsoft's $480 million contract to provide HoloLens augmented reality tech for the military drew protests from employees and criticism over aiding warfare.
11. Failing to address workplace issues like sexual harassment at acquired companies.
- Microsoft's failed acquisition of gaming company Activision Blizzard raised concerns about ignoring workplace issues like sexual harassment at the acquired company.
12. Forced automatic Windows updates that override user control and cause system issues.
- Microsoft has faced backlash for forcing automatic updates on Windows users, including major updates that have caused issues like deleted files and crashed systems. Users have little control over when updates install.
13. Maintaining monopolistic dominance in productivity software and operating systems.
- Microsoft has maintained its dominance in areas like productivity software (Office) and operating systems (Windows), making it difficult for competitors to gain market share. This monopolistic position allows them to exert control over the industry.
14. Vague and toothless AI ethics principles while pursuing lucrative military AI contracts.
- Microsoft's AI ethics principles have been criticized as vague and toothless in light of their pursuit of lucrative military AI contracts.
15. Continued excessive privacy violations and treating users as products with Windows.
- Windows 10 has been criticized for excessive data collection and lack of user privacy controls, essentially treating users as products to be monetized.
16. Restrictive proprietary licensing that stifles open source adoption.
- Microsoft's proprietary software licensing makes it difficult for open source alternatives to be adopted widely, as they have a history of undermining open source software and interoperability with Windows.