Microsoft Lays Out Data Protection Plans for European Cloud Customers

Microsoft Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella is pictured onstage during the Microsoft Build conference opening keynote in Seattle, Washington on May 19, 2025. (Photo by Jason Redmond / AFP)
Microsoft Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella is pictured onstage during the Microsoft Build conference opening keynote in Seattle, Washington on May 19, 2025. (Photo by Jason Redmond / AFP)
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Microsoft Lays Out Data Protection Plans for European Cloud Customers

Microsoft Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella is pictured onstage during the Microsoft Build conference opening keynote in Seattle, Washington on May 19, 2025. (Photo by Jason Redmond / AFP)
Microsoft Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella is pictured onstage during the Microsoft Build conference opening keynote in Seattle, Washington on May 19, 2025. (Photo by Jason Redmond / AFP)

Microsoft on Monday said data stored by its European cloud customers would stay in Europe, under European Law, with operations controlled by its local personnel, and under full control of customers.

European companies and governments have been increasingly worrying about their data being moved outside the continent into the hands of other countries such as the US, pushing the American companies such as Microsoft to announce safeguards.

Microsoft in April laid out plans to protect user data as it expands its cloud and AI infrastructure in Europe, including respecting European laws seeking to rein in the power of large technology companies.

On Monday, the company said all remote access by Microsoft engineers to the systems that store and process European data would be approved and monitored by European resident personnel in real-time.

Microsoft said its sovereign private cloud is in preview mode currently and will be generally available later this year.



BRICS Leaders to Call for Data Protections against Unauthorized AI Use

Brazilian soldiers take part in a demonstration exercise ahead of the BRICS Presidential Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 5, 2025. REUTERS/ Tita Barros/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Brazilian soldiers take part in a demonstration exercise ahead of the BRICS Presidential Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 5, 2025. REUTERS/ Tita Barros/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
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BRICS Leaders to Call for Data Protections against Unauthorized AI Use

Brazilian soldiers take part in a demonstration exercise ahead of the BRICS Presidential Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 5, 2025. REUTERS/ Tita Barros/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Brazilian soldiers take part in a demonstration exercise ahead of the BRICS Presidential Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 5, 2025. REUTERS/ Tita Barros/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

Leaders of the BRICS group of developing nations will call for protections against unauthorized use of artificial intelligence (AI) to avoid excessive data collection and allow mechanisms for fair payment, according to a draft statement seen by Reuters.

The diplomatic bloc is dedicating part of its discussions on Sunday to AI during a two-day summit in Rio de Janeiro.

Big tech firms largely based in wealthy nations have resisted calls to pay copyright fees for material used to train AI models.