NYOB’s Claim Against Microsoft’s GDPR Compliance
Advocacy group None of Your Business (NOYB) has lodged a complaint against Microsoft, accusing the tech giant of burdening schools with children’s personal data responsibilities, despite their lack of expertise in data management. The complaint adds to a series of grievances by rivals against Microsoft.
Allegations Made by NOYB Against Microsoft
NOYB has asserted that Microsoft passed on its General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) obligations to schools, which are ill-equipped to handle data management effectively. NOYB’s lawyer, Maartje de Graaf, mentioned the unrealistic nature of expecting schools to audit Microsoft or oversee data processing. The GDPR, a fundamental data privacy regulation in the EU and EEA, is at the center of this complaint.
Furthermore, NOYB’s second grievance concerns the presence of tracking cookies in Microsoft’s 365 Education, which the group claims monitor users’ activities regardless of their age. Such cookies are commonly used by advertisers for user tracking purposes.
Evaluation of Microsoft’s Stock Performance
Despite the recent allegations, analysts maintain a positive outlook on MSFT stock, with a Strong Buy consensus rating backed by 32 Buy recommendations and one Hold. Microsoft’s stock has shown a more than 10% rise year-to-date. The average price target for MSFT stands at $491.90, indicating a potential upside of 18.9% from its current trading levels.
