Nadella says data privacy must be seen as a human right

A pitch for data privacy has come from a firm which has, for long, kept secrecy at the core of its operations.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Thursday said data privacy must be seen as a human right that needs to be protected and have full transparency.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Summit 2020 in Davos, Nadella said it also needed to be ensured that the huge data being used with consent is for the good of society.

During a conversation with WEF founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab, Nadella also favoured a debate on CEO pay and all kinds of remuneration, including return on capital.

Asked what his recipe for doing good and at the same time doing well as the most valuable company in the world, Nadella said, “it comes down to having that core business design: when you do well, the world around you does well.”

“People and institutions are all part of our society, so if you don’t think about the broader systems, it is not stable,” he added.

He said there are four interconnected components needed for the world to collectively achieve more this decade – power broad economic growth through tech intensity; ensure that this economic growth is inclusive; build trust in technology and its use; and commit to a sustainable future.

Asked about a possible bifurcation of economy and tech between China and the US, Nadella said, “every country cares about their national security, I would urge us to think about what should happen.”

(With inputs from agencies)