Jim Chalmers then takes a dixer on the ACCC’s action against Microsoft (which he has to talk about in the broad, because of the court case)
Yesterday, the ACCC launched legal proceedings in the Federal Court against Microsoft for allegedly misleading about 2.7 million Australians when communicating subscription options and price increases after it integrated its AI assistant Copilot into Microsoft 360 plans.
Since 31 October last year, Microsoft told subscribers it would renew subscriptions and customers would need to either accept it or cancel their subscription.
The ACCC alleges this was false and misleading because a third option wasn’t disclosed. Whether it’s the regulators or this government, we take these sorts of developments very seriously. This case is currently before the courts and, for that reason, I won’t comment on the specifics.
But I will say this. There is no place for dodgy and deceptive behaviour like that being alleged in this case. If it’s proven that this has happened, it amounts to deception on an industrial scale. This week, the regulator has sent a powerful message to tech companies – we won’t let Australians be treated like mugs.
1 Comment
The computer I'm using right now is a Laptop running a 16 core i7 chip. Very powerful. It used to have Windows OS installed on it. I run all my gear on Gentoo Linux but to buy a clean computer is next to impossible or extremely expensive, sometimes twice the price or even more.
The trouble I had to go through merely to wipe the hard drive so I could install my new Linux operating system was immense. First, I had to start the computer, then supply all the configuration questions in order to get the thing up and running... a massive chore in itself. I had to start a Windows subscription, even though I'm trying to dump Windows, then I had to get a signing key so that I could get access to the system BIOS where I could configure access and computer disc drive booting order. I had to then install a program that would de-encrypt the drive.
After all this I was able to plug in my minimal install USB and wipe the hard drive and begin the install.
Previously, 20 years ago or more, all I had to do was install my USB and wipe the hard drive.
Microsoft has taken over the hardware in the name of "security".. when such security is an illusion. If someone has physical access to your computer, all security is for nought.
Now I'm stuck with a Microsoft account... my personal details available for cracking by bad actors... merely trying to wipe the hard drive OF MY OWN COMPUTER.
Microsoft is a master at these types of actions.. that is driving users into their path and away from others. I find it anti-competitive.