Caspar Bowden, who resigned as director of the Foundation for Internet Policy Research to 'return to industry' earlier this year, is due to pop up at Microsoft this week, our sources inform us.

Bowden was involved in establishing the FIPR as a campaigning think tank on Internet and privacy issues, and was heavily involved in the fight against the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, so his new role as privacy and security manager for EMEA at Microsoft promises to be interesting.

We are not entirely clear whether this is poacher turned gamekeeper or vice versa. But presumably Bowden will see his new role as being to keep the Beast honest, while the Beast itself will see the appointment of such a prominent campaigner as proof of its intent to be honest.

We say "presumably" because we've asked Microsoft to explain its thinking, and we've tried calling Caspar too. To no avail. But we expect there'll be a formal announcement along in a minute, and the FIPR is now advertising his old job here. ®