Microsoft To Ban ‘Offensive Language’ & Monitor Your Private Account

"Microsoft To Ban ‘Offensive Language’ & Monitor Your Private Account

Microsoft is cracking down on what people say while using their services online. According to a new services agreement written by the company, the tech giant is planning to ban accounts that use “offensive language” and will go through your private data to “investigate” users.

In a March 1 release, Microsoft is warning customers using Office, Xbox, Skype, and other products that the company is prohibiting offensive language and inappropriate content starting on May 1...

Internet privacy and civil rights advocates are already speaking out against the Microsoft service agreement; calling the upcoming policy an attack on free speech. “Offensive language is fairly vague. Offensive to whom? What my granny might find offensive and what I might find offensive could be vastly different,” Ms. Smith of CSO Online wrote...

Digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) argues that Microsoft’s hard-line policy stems from Congress passing two new sex trafficking bills....

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."

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2018/03/27/microsoft-ban-offensive-language-xbox-skype-office-account/

 

Office? So if someone writes document with word ***** with Microsoft Office they will automatically know it?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm......Big brother is watching

 

Monitoring private account and private documents for offensive language? It seems similar to police, putting microphones in you home and then writing you a fine if they find out that you swear in your own home. Just crazy...

 

So why would anyone ever trust Microsoft. Seriously, people!

Also, why would anyone store stuff online without encrypting it locally?

And from Microsoft's perspective, why should they put themselves at risk for users' foolishness?

 

I'm not sure how new this is? I heard some years ago a case from a professional photographer who had uploaded photos to a private area on One drive and been flagged by auto-image-nudity. Here's the link:

http://mspoweruser.com/microsoft-monitoring-censoring-skydrive-uploads/

Sounds like the search of "offensive language" is the new element. Should be hilarious.

 

The US is on a tear to stamp out sex trafficking. And, although more-or-less unstated, prostitution as well. So websites are now liable for users' indiscretions. So Craigslist has nuked personals in the US. And YouTube is nuking stuff.

 

You are right, I checked craigslist the personals section now has a message explaing they closed it for fear they could be held criminally liable under HR 1865.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1865/summary/18?

They may have acted prematurely though, depending how this is interpreted.

It seems to me, in the last line, the phrase,

the word "to" implies intent, that the site operaters deliberately promoted or facilitated prostitution etc.
Conversely had it said, "that promotes or facilitates..." then it really would imply that regardless of whether the purpose of the site operators was benign, if the sites features were used to promote or facilitate prostitution etc they would be criminally liable.
Congress should take another look at that because if it interpreted that the latter is true, it could take down half the internet.
On any user forum, users could post messages even cryptic ones, advertising prostitution or sex trafficing.
Any email service, messaging service, video hosting, image hosting, cloud storage, drop box, you name it, it could be used to promote the activity mentioned in the bill.
How can any site operator ensure their services are not used in that way except by closing it down, and even if they did take their sites down, there is other aspect to this amendment,

That would mean taking down craigslist personals now, would not protect them from criminal prosecution if the site had previously been in breach.
The law should never be allowed to be applied in retrospect, period. Imagine what that could mean in the future for millions of people who have everything they do, documented online, on their devices, backed up and stored in the cloud.
They could make anything illegal tomorrow that is perfectly acceptable today then trawl everyones data to see who can they now arrest for having done or said that.

 

Yes, this is indeed a frightening development

And yes, the language is ambiguous, and lack of intent could be a defense. But any defense requires paying lawyers, who don't come cheap.

The retroactive aspect is especially troubling

 

@mirimir
I can tell you, I dont think at any time in my life have I found it this frustrating to watch what they do and it is because, a system that values wealth over intelligence at every level encourages stupid ignorant people to vote for the same stupid ignorant politicians who consistantly vote to implement poorly thought out knee jerk reaction legislation that over rules years of work by their far more worthy predecessors who tried to achieve a balance so that laws intended to address criminal activity did not assault the rights and freedoms of everyone else and I think people like Thomas Jefferson would be absolutely appalled at his modern day successors because if someone like me can look at that for just ten minutes and see those obvious flaws then what the hell was the US congress doing?

 

Yes, it's sad

 

QFT. The majority who participate are angry & stupid. So there you go.

Supersize that scapegoat for you sir? Why yes everybody is else is supersizing their scapegoating, so I will too!

 

Not sure how they plan to do this. Do all their products have back doors?

 

YES

10char

 

No of course not, its just telemetry and its for your own good, it prevents terryistz...LOL

 

So if Craigslist believes HR1865 can be used against them because prostitution has been promoted or facilitated in their personal ads, then what about the porn sites?
They definately facilitate and promote prostitution all the time, some of those videos even clearly state the female participant is a prostitute.

 

Those that know how are not worried. Others would be crushed.

 

Is it my imagination or has our society gone freaking insane (see, I cleaned up freaking)? If I had any MS accounts left, with all their stupidity from the early computer days forward this action would signal the death Knell of MS for me. I hope this draconian action ********* enough people off they vote with their feet and their wallets. Even Zuckerfreak was affected with the Cambridge Analytica garbage. BTW, I read somewhere there is a measure in parliament (don't know the details) to fine these big companies who make these massive violations either $20,000,000 (yes, that's million) or 4% of their annual operating budget whichever is larger, per offense. That is large enough that even these mega zillion dollar corps will suddenly have to pay attention.

 

Yes, GDPR comes into force on May 25th in EU (for all companies that handle data from EU citizens). Here is some more info about fines: https://www.itgovernance.co.uk/dpa-and-gdpr-penalties

 

Tip of the iceberg, tip of the iceberg. There is no nice, fair or enforceable solution.

Not advocating the next. AGAIN NOT PROMOTING THIS.

But the only way I see any hope is the 2nd coming or deciding who is responsible by the tens of thousands of people. Again who's to decide, morality, decency all that I get it. I am NOT saying to do this. But gather up these thousands, hang them by their heels in town centers all over the world & livestream it. It should be adults (13, 18 whatever age is decided) of all genders, all races, all religions, all non-religous, all creeds. All those deemed responsible (not by me) & *** them & let them ***** out. Then maybe (NOT going to happen) people, businesses & governments will treat the masses decently, compassionately & rightly. Like the Golden Rule those evil stupid *****.

Pandora's box can't be shut. It's all a trick to pull the taffy thinner & thinner without breaking those sugary foldable threads.

I know I'm an optimist but I just can't help it.

 

To some people 'Microsoft' and 'Vista' could be perceived as offensive words. lol

 

While it might make them take a 2nd look, I don't think it will affect their behavior. They will find ways around it, loopholes. They'll find a different method that works around whatever restrictions are imposed.

Their legal teams and IT teams are going to be much smarter than politicians and lawmakers.

 

The common man will happily give up all sorts of personal information for the convenience of "apps" and free games and social media.

Furthermore, trying to talk about such issues as this results in weird blank stares from users of such services. So don't know what to do about that?!? It's like you're a nobody if you don't have these social media accounts.

 

Guess I'm a nobody then.

 

Hahaha, so true. Experienced that few times. Usually we quickly changed subject

 

Except now there's a very distinct & unworthy feeling of simultaneous Schadenfreude and "told-you-so" about it all. I'm sure there must be a medical name for the sinking feeling the product is now suffering.