2019年经济学人 重振雄风的微软(2)

 

Third, work with regulators rather than try to outwit or overwhelm them. From the start Microsoft designed Azure¹ in such a way that it could accommodate local data-protection laws. Its president and chief legal officer, Brad Smith, has been the source of many policy proposals, such as a “Digital Geneva Convention” to protect people from cyber-attacks by nation-states. He is also behind Microsoft’s comparatively cautious use of artificial intelligence, and calls for oversight² of facial recognition. The firm has been relatively³ untouched by the current backlash against tech firms, and is less vulnerable to new regulation.

第三，与监管机构合作，而不是试图瞒骗或压倒。从一开始，微软就以一种能够适应本地数据保护法律的方式来设计Azure。它的总裁兼首席法律官布拉德·史密斯一直是许多政策提议的来源，比如一项旨在保护人们免受民族国家网络攻击的“数字日内瓦公约”。他还支持微软相对谨慎地使用人工智能，并呼吁监管面部识别。相对而言，该公司没有受到目前针对科技公司的反弹的影响，也不太容易受到新监管规定的影响。

True, missing the boat on social media means thorny⁴ matters such as content moderation pose greater difficulties for Facebook and Google. Still, others would do well to follow Microsoft’s lead. Apple has championed its customers’ privacy, but its treatment of competitors’ services in its app store may soon land it in antitrust trouble. Facebook and Google have started to recognise that with great power comes great responsibility, but each has yet to find its equivalent of Azure, a new business model beyond its original golden goose. Amazon, in its ambition and culture, most resembles the old Microsoft.

诚然，在社交媒体上错失良机意味着，内容节制等棘手问题将给Facebook和谷歌带来更大的困难。尽管如此，其他公司还是会效仿微软的做法。苹果一直在保护用户的隐私，但它在应用商店中对待竞争对手服务的方式，可能很快会让它陷入反垄断的麻烦。Facebook和谷歌已经开始认识到，实力越大，责任越大，但两家公司都尚未找到与Azure对等的业务模式，这是一种超越其最初的金鹅的新商业模式。亚马逊的雄心和文化与老微软最为相似。

Even a reformed monopolist demands scrutiny⁵. It should not be forgotten that Microsoft got where it is today in part through rapacity⁶. Critics argue that in its battle with Slack, a corporate⁷ messaging service which competes with a Microsoft product, it is up to some of its old tricks. A growing number of women at the firm are complaining about sexual harassment⁸ and discrimination. The new Microsoft is far from perfect. But it has learned some lessons that other tech giants should heed⁹.

即使是经过改革的垄断者也需要审查。我们不应忘记，微软之所以到如今的处境，部分原因在于贪婪。批评人士认为，在与企业通讯服务Slack的竞争中（Slack与微软的一款产品存在竞争），谷歌使用了一些老把戏。公司里越来越多的女性抱怨性骚扰和歧视。新的微软远非完美。但它吸取了一些其他科技巨头应该吸取的教训。

1 azure   

adj.天蓝色的，蔚蓝色的

参考例句：

• His eyes are azure.他的眼睛是天蓝色的。
• The sun shone out of a clear azure sky.清朗蔚蓝的天空中阳光明媚。

2 oversight   

n.勘漏，失察，疏忽

参考例句：

• I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
• Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。

3 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

4 thorny   

adj.多刺的，棘手的

参考例句：

• The young captain is pondering over a thorny problem.年轻的上尉正在思考一个棘手的问题。
• The boys argued over the thorny points in the lesson.孩子们辩论功课中的难点。

5 scrutiny   

n.详细检查，仔细观察

参考例句：

• His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
• Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。

6 rapacity   

n.贪婪，贪心，劫掠的欲望

参考例句：

• Here was neither guile nor rapacity. 在她身上没有狡诈和贪婪。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• During the whole process of construction, the operational safty and rapacity of track must be guaranteed. 改建施工期内不影响正线运营安全，也不降低通过能力。 来自互联网

7 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

8 harassment   

n.骚扰，扰乱，烦恼，烦乱

参考例句：

• She often got telephone harassment at night these days.这些天她经常在夜晚受到电话骚扰。
• The company prohibits any form of harassment.公司禁止任何形式的骚扰行为。

9 heed   

v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心

参考例句：

• You must take heed of what he has told.你要注意他所告诉的事。
• For the first time he had to pay heed to his appearance.这是他第一次非得注意自己的外表不可了。