Microsoft is lobbying Congress to pass something they call the Cloud Computing Advancement Act. It would modify three areas of internet policy related to privacy, security and international issues. I'm not sure how I feel about this. Depending on the specified language involved, this could be a good or bad thing.
Whether it's an oil refiner, automobile manufacturer or software development company, when private entities involve themselves in public policy, there's always a danger of self-interest overwhelming public interest. Technically, Microsoft is a public company, due to its publicly-traded status, but it begs the question; who are they really trying to protect?
If and when I see the actual language of this proposed Act, I might be able to give an opinion on that. In the meantime, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. After all, sometimes private and public interests dovetail. Maybe what's good for Microsoft in this instance is also good for the rest of us.