China Accelerates Plan to Remove Windows From Government Systems Amid Data-Security Worries
China's Ministry of State Security has ordered government-affiliated organizations to remove a customized version of Windows 10 from their computers, citing data-security concerns. This move accelerates plans to retire the software by several months, with the original retirement date set for February 2027.
The software in question was developed by C&M Information Technologies, a joint venture between Microsoft and state-owned China Electronics Technology Group Corp., founded in 2016 to make Windows compliant with China's cybersecurity and national-security requirements. Despite this, Beijing has been pushing government agencies and state-owned companies toward domestically developed technology.
Microsoft stated it was not aware of any security incident involving the product and that the software continues to receive regular security updates. However, authorities have also pressed sensitive government organizations to replace foreign-branded personal computers, with Chinese software companies such as Kylin Software and Tongxin Software offering Windows alternatives.