Microsoft, in July 2025, declared another round of layoffs—its most extensive workforce reduction in over two years—affecting roughly 9,000 employees. While the majority of the workforce cuts impacted Activision Blizzard staff, some employees from Xbox and ZeniMax were also among those affected. To exploit opportunities in any chosen market, the company must maintain a presence through subsidiaries. A $480 million defense contract was awarded to the company by the U.S. government in November 2018, enabling the integration of AR headset technology into American military weapon systems. Following this, Microsoft issued a corporate bond worth $2.25 billion in February 2011, securing favorable interest rates relative to government debt.
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The probe scrutinized Microsoft’s bundling of cloud services with products like Office and security tools, as well as its growing AI presence through its partnership with OpenAI. In November 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched an investigation into Microsoft, focusing on potential antitrust violations related to its cloud computing, AI, and cybersecurity businesses. Microsoft was the first company to participate in the PRISM surveillance program, according to leaked NSA documents obtained by The Guardian and The Washington Post in June 2013, and acknowledged by government officials following the leak. This characterization is derived from the perception that Microsoft provides nearly everything for its employees in a convenient place, but in turn overworks them to a point where it would be bad for their (possibly long-term) health.
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If gambling becomes a problem, seek professional support, and check for local PH support lines, such as Bantay Bata Helpline, or Gamblers Anonymous Philippines. The Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation is the main regulatory body, responsible for issuing licenses and monitoring operators. Online gambling is legal in the Philippines under strict regulations, and casinos operate legally only through licensed platforms.
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The program authorizes the government to secretly access data of non-US citizens hosted by American companies without a warrant. Criticism of Microsoft has followed various aspects of its products and business practices, including surveillance of employees, «Velvet Sweatshop» practices, tax manipulation, and antitrust violations. On August 23, 2012, Microsoft unveiled a new corporate logo at the opening of its 23rd Microsoft store in Boston, indicating the company’s shift of focus from the classic style to the tile-centric modern interface, which it uses/will use on the Windows Phone platform, Xbox 360, Windows 8 and the upcoming Office Suites. In April 2016, the company sued the U.S. government, argued that secrecy orders were preventing the company from disclosing warrants to customers in violation of the company’s and customers’ rights. In May 2025, Microsoft announced that it is laying off more than 6,000 employees, around three percent of the company’s entire workforce. In June 2024, Microsoft announced it would be laying off 1,000 employees from the company’s mixed reality and Azure cloud computing divisions.
Bill Gates declared his resignation from Microsoft’s and Berkshire Hathaway’s boards on March 13, 2020, to dedicate more time to philanthropic initiatives. Like most publicly traded firms, Microsoft’s leadership is governed by an independent board of directors composed primarily of external members. Microsoft is one of only two U.S. companies to hold the highest possible credit rating, AAA. A UN report from June 2025 highlighted Microsoft as part of several corporations «central to Israel’s surveillance infrastructure and the ongoing destruction in Gaza. On February 28, 2025, Microsoft revealed that Skype would cease operations on May 5, 2025, as part of a strategic shift toward Microsoft Teams.
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