Could they do it? Deactivate Windows licenses, block Cloud services, access to Office 365 and whatnot?

  • vvilld@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Microsoft has the ability to do this if they really wanted to. It would completely destroy their business if they did, though, so they won’t. I mean, who would keep using Microsoft products if the company was willing to just take it away from you at a moment’s notice?

    The US government cannot do it so easily. They’d have to order Microsoft to do so. Microsoft would resist and take it to court. The US Court system makes a LOT of really fucked up rulings, but the one thing they do reliably is side with big business. I’m inclined to think that in this hypothetical showdown, the courts would side with Microsoft.

      • Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        1 day ago

        Not like loads of militaries care.
        They either use Linux (probably not BSD (or maybe they do?!) or outdated af Windows NT/XP/embedded 7/Server versions.
        I’d honestly not expect them to at least use Windows 10 IoT or an embedded modern version.

        I mean our banks still used Windows 7 or Server 2012 for their ATMs.
        And they are network connected lol

      • ssillyssadass@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        I’m sure that if a government has information that’s so sensitive they’ll store it on servers that run some sort of proprietary OS, or maybe not digitally at all.

      • Ziggurat@jlai.lu
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        1 day ago

        Isn’t it even part of US law? And why big organization request their data to be hosted in their country?.

        I thought this was far more than just Snowden