Five years ago, Microsoft put security, privacy and reliability — what we call Trustworthy Computing — at the center of our efforts. The newly released Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office system were designed to be fundamentally more secure and to provide people with significantly more control over their information.

Microsoft also works closely with governments, non-profit organizations and industry partners to educate consumers about online safety. We collaborate on industry-wide standards that will enable people to access digital information more securely, no matter where they are or what device they have at hand. And we assist law enforcement in fighting Internet-related crime.

On the legal front, we at Microsoft believe the United States needs an all-inclusive, uniform privacy law that will give consumers more control over their personal data and more reason for confidence in providing information to legitimate businesses and other organizations. With the flow of information becoming increasingly global, we also see a growing need to align U.S. law with current and emerging privacy standards in the rest of the world.