Microsoft says it will no longer use engineers in China for Department of Defense work | TechCrunch

Following a Pro Publica report that Microsoft was utilizing engineers in China to assist keep cloud computing methods for the U.S. Department of Defense, the corporate stated it’s made adjustments to make sure this will no longer occur.

The prevailing system reportedly relied on “digital escorts” to oversee the China-based engineers. However in response to Professional Publica, these escorts — U.S. residents with safety clearances — typically lacked the technical experience to correctly monitor the engineers.

In response to the report, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wrote on X, “International engineers — from any nation, together with of course China — ought to NEVER be allowed to keep up or entry DoD methods.”

On Friday, Microsoft’s chief communications officer Frank X. Shaw responded: “In response to issues raised earlier this week about US-supervised international engineers, Microsoft has made adjustments to our assist for US Authorities clients to guarantee that no China-based engineering groups are offering technical help for DoD Authorities cloud and associated providers.”