Microsoft · Microsoft Responsible AI Principles

Accountability Principle and Governance Structure

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What it is

Accountability. We work to ensure that people are responsible for AI systems and their outcomes. Microsoft has established a governance framework to ensure accountability for AI systems, including the Office of Responsible AI and the AETHER committee.

Why it matters

Internal governance structures are increasingly required by law under the EU AI Act, but this page does not describe external audit rights, third-party verification, or how affected individuals can trigger accountability mechanisms.

Consumer impact

This document describes Microsoft's internal ethical framework for AI development but does not grant consumers any enforceable rights, data deletion options, or complaint procedures in relation to AI-driven decisions that may affect them. Consumers who use Microsoft AI products like Copilot or Azure OpenAI Service are subject to separate terms of service and privacy policies that govern actual data handling, and this page does not modify or supplement those agreements. You can review Microsoft's Privacy Statement at microsoft.com/en-us/privacy and submit data rights requests through Microsoft's Privacy Dashboard if you are concerned about how your personal data is used by Microsoft AI systems.

Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    FTC Act Section 5 applies where corporate AI governance representations are material to consumer decisions and are not operationalised in practice.
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
Microsoft Responsible AI Principles
Entity
Microsoft
Document last updated
March 24, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 15, 2026
Last verified
April 4, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-002088
Document ID
CA-D-00019
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
SHA-256
23a6ca38df3168c404a699491ed0c3613a9ae7c2bd3913347338d808de2ae94a
Verified
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Change verified
How to Cite
ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: Microsoft | Document: Microsoft Responsible AI Principles | Record: CA-P-002088
Captured: 2026-03-15 11:24:32 UTC | SHA-256: 23a6ca38df3168c4…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/microsoft/microsoft-responsible-ai-principles/accountability-principle-and-governance-structure/
Accessed: April 4, 2026
Classification
Severity
Medium
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