Once a thief, always a thief. I would not trust them to not have the communications buried deep in some log files in cold storage, to be digested when suitable.

I don’t think any corporation would do anything to trigger the lawyers from MS / Google / Apple etc all at once.

Simple: implement a hybrid or in office work policy, no emails to subpoena

I think the lure to have/keep an edge at all costs to keep those stock prices high is too big to ignore. They can then pick up costs after series of trials down the line, money and bonuses are now.

MS ain't some altruistic company having core mission the good of humanity, as they proven across decades.