Microsoft Defends Bid for $10B Pentagon Cloud Contract Amid Criticism Over Government Use of Technology

Microsoft said Friday it will not pull out of the competition for a $10 billion cloud contract for the Department of Defense, despite growing concerns about private companies selling new technologies to the federal government. From a report: The Redmond, Wash., company defended its position in a blog post Friday, claiming that technologists should be involved in government adoption of new innovations to ensure they are not misused. Microsoft President Brad Smith wrote in the post that 'to withdraw from this market is to reduce our opportunity to engage in the public debate about how new technologies can best be used in a responsible way.' He decided to share publicly sentiments that he and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella discussed at a monthly Q&A with employees Thursday. 'We want the people of this country and especially the people who serve this country to know that we at Microsoft have their back,' Smith wrote. 'They will have access to the best technology that we create.' Smith's defense comes days after an unspecified number of Microsoft employees urged the company to not bid on the Project JEDI. Further reading: Oracle Trying Hard To Make Sure Pentagon Knows Amazon Isn't the Only Cloud Around; Google Drops Out of Pentagon's $10 Billion Cloud Competition; Jeff Bezos Defends Big Tech Working with Department of Defense.

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