Microsoft aims to crack down on "terrorist content" with new policy

With the rising global concerns over terrorist attacks, Microsoft Corp yesterday outlined new policies to crack down on what it called ''terrorist content'' on some of its consumer services.

The company said in a blog post, that it would ban what it called  ''terrorist content'' on such offerings as Xbox Live, the consumer version of its Outlook email service, and its consumer documents-sharing service.

However, for its search engine Bing, Microsoft cited free expression and said it would remove links only when that ''is required of search providers under local law.''

Microsoft would initially rely on consumers to report objectionable content and the company also said it would fund research of a tool that scanned content and flagged images, audio and video.

''We will consider terrorist content to be material posted by or in support of organisations 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 blog post said.

The steps point to the tough choices many companies faced while balancing public safety with individual rights.

"We have a responsibility to run our various internet services so that they are a tool to empower people, not to contribute, however indirectly, to terrible acts," Microsoft said in announcing the policy.

"We also have a responsibility to run our services in a way that respects timeless values such as privacy, freedom of expression, and the right to access information."

Microsoft added that it would work with a Dartmouth University project that sought to create a system to identify and flag terrorist content in order to better track that content to be reported to site administrators.

"As we look at additional measures we can take, our actions will always be consistent with the rule of law and with our belief in our users' rights to privacy, freedom of expression and access to information," Microsoft said.