Apple is quietly planning for life after Tim Cook. Inside the succession talks, one internal executive is increasingly seen as the likely successor.
The post Inside Apple’s Succession Plan: One Name Keeps Coming Up appeared first on TechRepublic.
Apple is quietly planning for life after Tim Cook. Inside the succession talks, one internal executive is increasingly seen as the likely successor.
The post Inside Apple’s Succession Plan: One Name Keeps Coming Up appeared first on TechRepublic.
Two human rights proposals at Microsoft’s annual shareholder meeting drew support from more than a quarter of voting shares — far more than any other outside proposals this year.
The results, disclosed Monday in a regulatory filing, come amid broader scrutiny of the company’s business dealings in geopolitical hotspots. The proposals followed a summer of criticism and protests over the use of Microsoft technology by the Israeli military.
The filing shows the vote totals for six outside shareholder proposals that were considered at the Dec. 5 meeting. Microsoft had announced shortly after the meeting that shareholders rejected all outside proposals, but the numbers had not previously been disclosed.
According to the filing, two proposals received outsized support:
Proposal 9 had received support from proxy advisor Institutional Shareholder Services — a rare endorsement for a first-time filing. Proxy advisor Glass Lewis recommended against it.
The measure attracted 58 co-filers and sparked opposing campaigns. JLens, an investment advisor affiliated with the Anti-Defamation League, said Proposal 9 was aligned with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which pressures companies to cut ties with Israel. Ekō, an advocacy group that backed the proposal, said the vote demonstrated growing concerns about Microsoft’s contracts with the Israeli military.
In September, Microsoft cut off an Israeli military intelligence unit’s access to some Azure services after finding evidence supporting a Guardian report in August that the technology was being used for surveillance of Palestinian civilians.
Microsoft’s board recommended shareholders vote against all six outside proposals at the Dec. 5 annual meeting. Here’s how the other four proposals fared:
See Microsoft’s proxy statement and our earlier coverage for more information.
Microsoft’s annual shareholder meeting Friday played out as if on a split screen: executives describing a future where AI cures diseases and secures networks, and shareholder proposals warning of algorithmic bias, political censorship, and complicity in geopolitical conflict.
One shareholder, William Flaig, founder and CEO of Ridgeline Research, quoted two authorities on the topic — George Orwell’s 1984 and Microsoft’s Copilot AI chatbot — in requesting a report on the risks of AI censorship of religious and political speech.
Flaig invoked Orwell’s dystopian vision of surveillance and thought control, citing the Ministry of Truth that “rewrites history and floods society with propaganda.” He then turned to Copilot, which responded to his query about an AI-driven future by noting that “the risk lies not in AI itself, but in how it’s deployed.”
In a Q&A session during the virtual meeting, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said the company is “putting the person and the human at the center” of its AI development, with technology that users “can delegate to, they can steer, they can control.”
Nadella said Microsoft has moved beyond abstract principles to “everyday engineering practice,” with safeguards for fairness, transparency, security, and privacy.
Brad Smith, Microsoft’s vice chair and president, said broader societal decisions, like what age kids should use AI in schools, won’t be made by tech companies. He cited ongoing debates about smartphones in schools nearly 20 years after the iPhone.
“I think quite rightly, people have learned from that experience,” Smith said, drawing a parallel to the rise of AI. “Let’s have these conversations now.”
Microsoft’s board recommended that shareholders vote against all six outside proposals, which covered issues including AI censorship, data privacy, human rights, and climate. Final vote tallies have yet to be released as of publication time, but Microsoft said shareholders turned down all six, based on early voting.
While the shareholder proposals focused on AI risks, much of the executive commentary focused on the long-term business opportunity.
Nadella described building a “planet-scale cloud and AI factory” and said Microsoft is taking a “full stack approach,” from infrastructure to AI agents to applications, to capitalize on what he called “a generational moment in technology.”
Microsoft CFO Amy Hood highlighted record results for fiscal year 2025 — more than $281 billion in revenue and $128 billion in operating income — and pointed to roughly $400 billion in committed contracts as validation of the company’s AI investments.
Hood also addressed pre-submitted shareholder questions about the company’s AI spending, pushing back on concerns about a potential bubble.
“This is demand-driven spending,” she said, noting that margins are stronger at this stage of the AI transition than at a comparable point in Microsoft’s cloud buildout. “Every time we think we’re getting close to meeting demand, demand increases again.”
Last Updated on October 8, 2025 by Narendra Sahoo
In the era where technology plays a core part in everything, fintech and blockchain have emerged as transformative forces for businesses. They not only reshape the financial landscape but also promise unparalleled transparency, efficiency and security as the world move forward to digital currency. That’s when you know being updated about SOX Compliance in Blockchain & Fintech are important than ever.
As per the latest statistics by DemandSage, there are around 29,955 Fintech startups in the world, in which over 13,100 fintech startups are based in the United States. This shows how much business are increasingly embracing technology to innovate and address evolving financial needs. It also highlights the global shift towards digital-first solutions, driven by a demand for greater accessibility and efficiency in financial services.
On the other hand, blockchain technology, also known as Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) is currently valued at approximately USD $8.70 billion in USA and is estimated to grow an impressive USD $619.28 billion by 2034, according to data from Precedence Research.
However, as this digital continues the revolution, businesses embracing these technologies must also prioritize compliance, security, and accountability. This is where SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley) compliance plays an important role. In today’s article we are going to explore the reason SOX Compliance is crucial for fintech and blockchain industry. So, lets get started!
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), passed in 2002, aims to enhance corporate accountability and transparency in financial reporting. It applies to all publicly traded companies in the U.S. and mandates strict adherence to internal controls, accurate financial reporting, and executive accountability to prevent corporate fraud.
To read more about the SOX you may check the introductory guide to SOX compliance.
Blockchain technology and fintech solutions disrupt traditional financial systems by offering decentralized and automated alternatives. While these innovations bring significant benefits, they can also obscure transparency and accountability, two principles that SOX aims to uphold. SOX compliance focuses on accurate financial reporting, strong internal controls, and prevention of fraud, aligning with both the potential and risks of emerging technologies.
Blockchain technology is often touted for its transparency and immutability. However, errors in smart contracts, incorrect data inputs, or cyberattacks can lead to inaccurate financial records. SOX compliance mandates stringent controls over financial reporting, ensuring that organizations maintain reliable records even when leveraging blockchain.
Fintech platforms and blockchain ecosystems often operate without centralized oversight, making it challenging to identify and address fraud or anomalies. SOX’s requirement for management’s assessment of internal controls and independent audits provides a critical layer of oversight, helping organizations address vulnerabilities in decentralized environments.
The trust of investors, customers, and regulators is paramount for fintech and blockchain companies. Adhering to SOX requirements demonstrates a commitment to transparency and accountability, promoting confidence among stakeholders and distinguishing compliant organizations from their competitors.
4. Addressing regulatory scrutiny
As blockchain and fintech solutions gain adoption, regulatory scrutiny is intensifying. SOX compliance ensures that organizations are prepared to meet these demands by maintaining rigorous financial practices and demonstrating accountability in their operations.
Many organizations are integrating traditional financial systems with blockchain-based solutions. This hybrid approach can create gaps in controls and reporting mechanisms. Leveraging blockchain in compliance with SOX helps bridge these gaps by enforcing comprehensive internal controls that adapt to both traditional and innovative systems.
By enforcing stringent controls and systematic processes, SOX compliance encourages better business practices and operational efficiency. This results in more accurate financial reporting, reduced manual interventions, and streamlined processes, which ultimately support better decision-making and resource allocation.
Blockchain and fintech are continuously evolving, and organizations must adapt to new technologies. SOX compliance offers a flexible framework that can scale and evolve with these changes, ensuring that financial reporting and internal controls remain relevant and effective in the face of new technological challenges and opportunities.
In the fast-paced era of blockchain and fintech, SOX compliance has evolved from a regulatory necessity to a strategic cornerstone. By driving accurate financial reporting, minimizing risks, and cultivating trust, it sets the stage for lasting growth and innovation. Companies that prioritize compliance and auditing standards don’t just safeguard their operation, but they also position themselves as forward-thinking leaders in the rapidly transforming financial landscape.
The post SOX Compliance and Its Importance in Blockchain & Fintech appeared first on Information Security Consulting Company - VISTA InfoSec.
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