China launches Microsoft probe

Beijing, July 28 (IANS/EFE) China Monday launched an official investigation in the offices of Microsoft across the country for reasons not yet specified, media reports said.

Investigators from the State Administration for Industry and Commerce visited Microsoft installations in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu, Efe reported citing the South China Morning Post as saying on its website.

Microsoft China spokeswoman Joan Li confirmed the investigation, and told the newspaper that the company would "actively cooperate" with the Chinese government in its inquiry.

The investigation comes two months after the government announced a ban on the new Windows 8 operating system from all computers at government institutions around the country out of fear of security breaches.

A few weeks later, several experts appeared on state television CCTV suggesting that Windows 8 had been used to obtain confidential information from Chinese citizens.

--IANS/EFE

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