EU Vice-President tells tech companies to remember its corporate responsibility

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Interesting blog from the European Commission’s Vice-President. She calls on Microsoft (and Yahoo and Google) to behave better in dealings in China and not sell human rights down the tube. I’m with her, but think it’s a much more complicated issue than she’s letting on (as I’ve said before, in posts that got me quite a bit of negative feedback and also were quoted in the Wall Street Journal). When I was at the Global Voices conference I had some interesting discussions about the issue with Sharon Hom, executive director of the Human Rights in China organization. Someday I’d love to do a podcast with her, she was one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met — she gave me a lot of feedback about how difficult the position is over there and how to work toward getting China’s citizens the freedoms we enjoy here in the United States.

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I give you a front-row seat on the future. Focusing most of my efforts now on next-generation augmented reality and artificial intelligence, AKA "mixed reality." SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER: http://clevermoe.com/scobleizer-news/ BUY OUR NEW BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Fourth-Transformation-Robert-Scoble/dp/1539894444 "The Fourth Transformation: How augmented reality and artificial intelligence will change everything." WATCH MY LATEST SPEECHES: State of VR with Philip Rosedale (done in VR itself, very cool): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zAA1EVGUZU At GEOINT, June 2017: http://trajectorymagazine.com/glimpse-new-world/ Augmented World Expo, June 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4xHILvLD8E At Leade.rs, April 2017: https://youtu.be/52_0JshgjXI +++++++++++ BIO: Scoble gives you a front-row seat on the future. Literally. He had the first ride in the first Tesla. Siri was launched in his house. He's been the first to share all sorts of technologies and companies with you, from Flipboard to Pandora to Instagram. Today he's focusing on mixed reality, AKA "next-generation augmented reality" which will include a new user interface for EVERYTHING in your life (IoT, Smart Cities, driverless cars, robots, drones, etc). That's based on his view thanks to his past experience as futurist at Rackspace. Best place to find Scoble? On his Facebook profile at https://www.facebook.com/RobertScoble He has been a technology blogger since 2000, was one of five people who built Microsoft's Channel 9 video blog/community, worked at Fast Company Magazine running its TV efforts, and has been part of technology media businesses since 1993. ++++++++ SPEAKER PITCH: Apple and Facebook now have revealed their Augmented Reality strategies, which means your business needs one too. Rely on Robert Scoble, the world's top authority on AR, to bring to your conference what businesses should do next. SPEECH ABSTRACT #1: TITLE: The Fourth Transformation: What's next in mixed reality (AR and AI) and the future of technology? Here's an example of this talk at Leade.rs in Paris in April, 2017: https://youtu.be/52_0JshgjXI Why "the Fourth Transformation?" Soon we will have phones and glasses that do full on augmented reality. Everything you look at will potentially be augmented. This world is coming in late 2017 with a new iPhone from Apple, amongst other products. Microsoft is betting everything on its HoloLens glasses that do mixed reality and the industry is spending many billions of dollars in R&D and funding new companies like Magic Leap. This future will be the user interface for IoT, Smart Cities, autonomous cars, robots, drones, and your TV. This is a big deal and Robert will take you through what mixed reality is and how it will change every business. Learn more about Robert's speaking style and contact his agent at http://odemanagement.com/robert-scoble/Robert-Scoble.html ++++++++ SPEECH ABSTRACT #2: "The Next Two Clicks of Moore's Law." Over the next four years, or two clicks of Moore's Law, a ton about our technology world will change. Scoble will bring you the best from his travels visiting R&D labs, startups, and innovators around the world. He views the world through his rose-colored-mixed-reality glasses, which will be the new user interface for self driving cars, Smart Cities, IoT, and many other things in our world. He'll send you off with some lessons for companies both large and small. ++++++++ SPEECH ABSTRACT #3: "Personalized Meaning: What is Augmented Reality For?" As we enter a far more technological world where even cars drive themselves, I predict we'll see a blowback toward the analog, more authentic world. What role does augmented reality play in both worlds? Get Scoble's insight into where augmented reality is going, see tons of real-world demos, and understand what he means by 'personalized meaning.' CONTACT: If you are looking to contact me, email is best: scobleizer@gmail.com. ++++++++ ENDORSEMENTS: IZEA Top 25 Tech Influencers: https://izea.com/2017/07/07/25-top-tech-influencers/ Time: One of the top 140 Twitterers! FT: One of the five most influential Twitterers! Inc. Top 5 on list of Tech Power Players You Need to Know: http://www.inc.com/john-rampton/30-power-players-in-tech-you-need-to-know.html Next Reality: #4 on top 50 AR influencer list: https://next.reality.news/news/nr50-next-realitys-50-people-watch-augmented-mixed-reality-0177454/

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6 thoughts on “EU Vice-President tells tech companies to remember its corporate responsibility”

  3. Well. There is nothing new.
    Review list of voting proposals in for
    past Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

    For example read here http://www.microsoft.com/msft/speech/FY02/shareholdermeeting02.mspx

    “SHAREHOLDER:
    […]
    This shareholder proposal sets forth basic standards that should be met by any company operating in China. Microsoft should sign it or incorporate it into its current business practice standards. Instead, by opposing this proposal, Microsoft may be complicit in labor rights violations and other abuses.
    […]
    STEVE BALLMER: The board recommends a vote against this proposal, believing it to be unnecessary […]
    Additionally, the board notes that the shareholder proposal is nearly identical to the one proposed in each of the prior two years, which was rejected by the shareholders. ”

    As you can see – Microsoft clearly answered that shareholders must simply trust that everything is OK. CEO not willing to set any process to validate his claims.

    Like

  4. Well. There is nothing new.
    Review list of voting proposals in for
    past Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

    For example read here http://www.microsoft.com/msft/speech/FY02/shareholdermeeting02.mspx

    “SHAREHOLDER:
    […]
    This shareholder proposal sets forth basic standards that should be met by any company operating in China. Microsoft should sign it or incorporate it into its current business practice standards. Instead, by opposing this proposal, Microsoft may be complicit in labor rights violations and other abuses.
    […]
    STEVE BALLMER: The board recommends a vote against this proposal, believing it to be unnecessary […]
    Additionally, the board notes that the shareholder proposal is nearly identical to the one proposed in each of the prior two years, which was rejected by the shareholders. ”

    As you can see – Microsoft clearly answered that shareholders must simply trust that everything is OK. CEO not willing to set any process to validate his claims.

    Like

  5. What? These are the same folks (the EU) who are blocking any kind of reform in farming subsidies to the detriment of the developing world. Gimme a break.

    Like

  6. What? These are the same folks (the EU) who are blocking any kind of reform in farming subsidies to the detriment of the developing world. Gimme a break.

    Like

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