Microsoft unites with other technology giants to “stay vigilant,” safeguard the 2020 U.S. election

As the 2020 Presidential election in the United States approaches, Microsoft is assuring American citizens that it will continue to coordinate with the government on election security. The company, along with a joint group of the other technology giants, said it will “stay vigilant” during election season and meet regularly with the government agencies tasked with protecting the integrity of the election.

With the group also consisting of Facebook, Google, Twitter, Reddit, Verizon Media, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Wikimedia, Microsoft says it met with government officials recently. The company also detailed that all companies in the group provided updates on what they’re seeing on their platforms, and what’s expected in the coming months. A full joint statement from the group can be seen below.

“For the past several years, we have worked closely to counter information operations across our platforms. In preparation for the upcoming election, we regularly meet to discuss trends with U.S. government agencies tasked with protecting the integrity of the election. We held the latest in a series of meetings with government partners today where we each provided updates on what we’re seeing on our respective platforms and what we expect to see in the coming month. Specifically, we discussed preparations for the upcoming conventions and scenario planning related to election results. We will continue to stay vigilant on these issues and meet regularly ahead of the November election.”

This should come as no surprise. Microsoft has long been involved to help secure voting systems, and ensure fair and free voting across the world. In February of last year, the company expanded its AccountGuard cybersecurity service in Europe to combat election meddling. Then, in September, Microsoft open-sourced its specialized ElectionGuard voting software for voting systems. It was tested in February of this year in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court elections.

When it comes to fighting misinformation, meanwhile, Microsoft’s Bing search engine recently launched an election experience that aims to help voters make informed decisions. Microsoft’s Edge Browser also integrates with NewsGuard, which shows trust ratings for 4,500+ news and information sites.