Microsoft Warns People from Sharing Inappropriate Content

Microsoft restrains on people’s activities while using their services online. According to the company’s new services agreement, Microsoft Corporation is planning to ban accounts that use ‘offensive language’ and will go through user’s private data to ‘investigate’.

In a March 1 release, Microsoft is warning customers that the company is prohibiting offensive language and inappropriate content effective May 1.

Microsoft lists its online services covered by the agreement; the list includes Skype, Windows Live Mail, Office 365, Bing, and Cortana.

“Don’t publicly display or use the Services to share inappropriate content or material (involving, for example, nudity, bestiality, pornography, offensive language, graphic violence, or criminal activity),” Microsoft warns in a portion of their new codes of conduct.

In addition, the tech giant added that they plan on ‘investigating’ users who violated the new policy and will block content from being sent to other people. “When investigating alleged violations of these Terms, Microsoft reserves the right to review Your Content in order to resolve the issue,” as stated in the company’s new policy.

“We are committed to providing our customers with safe and secure experiences while using our services. The recent changes to the Microsoft Service Agreement’s Code of Conduct provide transparency on how we respond to customer reports of inappropriate public content,” a Microsoft spokesperson said.

Microsoft said it does not listen to Skype conversations, but the tech giant added that it may obtain evidence of material that breaches the code-of-conduct if they receive a complaint from someone; be it over a Skype chat or an email.

The online services covered by the updated service agreement meaning users of these products need know the recent code of conduct by Microsoft. They also agree that any violations may result in banning their accounts and even investigating their private data.

Microsoft insisted it won't actively police its services, but it will investigate complaints from people who reported something inappropriate in their platforms.

A Violation of Free Speech

Data and internet privacy and civil rights advocates are currently speaking out against the Microsoft service agreement; calling the policy an attack on free speech and communication. “Offensive language is fairly vague. Offensive to whom? What my granny might find offensive and what I might find offensive could be vastly different,” an advocate said.

Another civil rights activist said that the Microsoft’s May 1 agreement is just an excuse to police people’s behavior, even in private.

A digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) argues that Microsoft’s policy came from Congress’ two new sex trafficking bills. The Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) and the Stop Enabling Sex-Trafficking Act (SESTA) hold platforms responsible for user’ speech, illegally share content, and anything connected to sex trafficking.

EFF claims SESTA/FOSTA silences online speech by forcing Internet platforms to censor their users.  The Department of Justice has also warned that the bills raise ‘serious constitutional concern.'

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