Microsoft outlined new anti-terrorism policies today. Terrorists are no longer welcome to use Microsoft’s online services, and the company will remove terrorist content when it’s reported to be on the company’s systems.
With the change, terrorist content joins hate speech and the advocacy of violence against others as expressly prohibited. Microsoft says that it will be using the Consolidated United Nations Security Council Sanctions List to determine whether something is terrorist or not; content posted by or in support of the individuals and groups on that list will be prohibited.
The policy for Bing will be different; links to terrorist content will be removed only in response to a takedown demand compliant with local law.
Microsoft is working with researchers to develop techniques to automatically identify terrorist pictures, videos, and audio. And the company is collaborating with government organizations to crack down on terrorist use of Internet platforms more broadly.
