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Terrorists No Longer Welcome On OneDrive, Outlook, Xbox Live (betanews.com)

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the taking-a-stand dept.

Microsoft has updated its anti-terrorism policies. In a blog post, the Redmond, Washington-based company said that it would remove "terrorist content" from a fleet of its services including OneDrive, Outlook and Xbox Live, reports BetaNews. For its search engine Bing, however, Microsoft says that it would only remove links when it is required by local law, citing free expression for all. The company adds that it would fund research for a tool that could help it better scan such content and flag image, audio and video. From company's blog post: There is no universally accepted definition of terrorist content. For purposes of our services, we will consider terrorist content to be material posted by or in support of organizations included on the Consolidated United Nations Security Council Sanctions List that depicts graphic violence, encourages violent action, endorses a terrorist organization or its acts, or encourages people to join such groups. The UN Sanctions List includes a list of groups that the UN Security Council considers to be terrorist organizations.

8 of 81 comments (clear)

  1. Oh great by 110010001000 · · Score: 2

    Does that mean I can get a refund?

  2. That list... by valinor89 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It seems to include some organizations that are not terrorist per se. OK, maybe we consider every ministry of Iran a terrorist organization but it is abit selfserving. Same with North Korean Atomic autorithy. Sure, they are "bad" but not terrorist organizations. Central Bank of Iraq is in there because it somehow financed terrorism... I bet that some American banks are involved with CIA operations too and they are not listed as terrorism organizations. I guess "Terrorism" is on the eyes of the beholder...

    1. Re:That list... by 110010001000 · · Score: 4, Funny

      The CIA isn't a terrorist organization. They are the ones protecting your rights to say stupid things on the Internet and allowing Allu Akbar from chopping your head off for belonging to the wrong religious group.

    2. Re:That list... by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 2

      I guess "Terrorism" is on the eyes of the beholder...

      You got it. If the British had won, George Washington and the founding fathers would have gone down in history as "terrorists".

      --
      Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
    3. Re:That list... by lister+king+of+smeg · · Score: 2

      The CIA isn't a terrorist organization. They are the ones protecting your rights to say stupid things on the Internet and allowing Allu Akbar from chopping your head off for belonging to the wrong religious group.

      Yes they are. Look at who they have funded over the years Osam bin ladin and his Mujahideen aka the Taliban.
      Then there is the whole international drug trade were they where distributing heroin opium and more
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

      --
      ---Saying gnome 3 is better than windows 8 not so much a compliment as it is damning with light praise.
    4. Re:That list... by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 2

      So if I break into your house and steal a kitchen knife which I then use to kill somebody, should you feel guilty because someone else says you provided me with the weapon? No? I see.

      Holy fuck, Analogy Failure Alert, Level 1 Million.

      They didn't break into our military stockpiles and steal weapons and money, we sent it to them.

      Are you really unable to discern the difference between these two things?

      --
      Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
    5. Re:That list... by unrtst · · Score: 2

      The definition is terrorism is about bringing a desired political outcome with the populace largely affected in so much as the populace will revolt against their own government through the machinations of the terrorists.

      I disagree. While trying to put into words what I feel it is, I ran into the FBI's definition, and it's actually quite good:
      https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/i...

      ... means activities with the following ... characteristics:

      • * Involve violent acts or acts dangerous to human life that violate federal or state law;
      • * Appear to be intended (i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping;

      I would also include threats of violet acts, and utilization of intimidation and fear to adversely affect another group. Whether or not that causes revolt or any real political change doesn't really matter.

  3. Hello Slippery Slope by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 2

    This just gives Microsoft license to do whatever the fuck they want at any time with no recourse. Pretty much like before except now it can be done under the auspices of "fighting terrorism".

    Plus it gives them a wide-open excuse to paw through your files and content because, you know, they're just lookin' for terroristic content, who could possibly have a problem with that?

    --
    Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...