Microsoft, Google and Samsung Back Paris Cyber Pledge

Microsoft, Google and Samsung are backing a cybersecurity pledge coming out of Paris that promises to unite tech giants and governments in battling election tampering, compromised electronic components and software hacks, according to Bloomberg.

Hundreds of companies, non-profit groups and governments, including France and the U.S., but not China or Russia, have signed the “Paris call for trust and security in cyberspace,“ which came about under the auspices of President Emmanuel Macron, French officials said. The tech pledge is a reaction to cyber-wars. It builds on previous accords like the one signed in April by the tech industry, but reaches beyond just companies or governments for a broader alliance.

“Since 2016, we’ve seen attacks by some countries undermining democracies,“ Brad Smith, Microsoft’s president and chief legal officer, told reporters in Paris. Microsoft spotted cyber-assault attempts on all major candidates during the French elections last year and, in the U.S., some attacks were successful during the 2016 elections, he said.

As part of the technology-focused accord, country chiefs are committing to protecting citizens from government-financed cyber-weapons. Key engagements from technology companies include upgrading products throughout their life cycle to address security loopholes, and preserving the integrity of the supply chain.