Microsoft launches webform to handle revenge porn removal requests

Microsoft is making it easier for victims of revenge porn to have links to offending content – and in some cases, the content itself – removed from its Bing search engine, OneDrive and Xbox Live.

Microsoft Chief Online Safety Officer Jacqueline Beauchere said revenge porn is on the rise and can damage nearly every aspect of a victim’s life including relationships, careers and social activities. In the most tragic cases, she added, it has even led to suicide.

There’s plenty that needs to be done to address the issue. As a first step, Microsoft has launched a new reporting website designed to make it easier for victims to inform the company of intimate photos or video shared without their consent.

The site is available as of writing in English although Microsoft said it plans to expand to include other languages in the near future.

Microsoft points out that when links or content is removed, it will be done so globally. Even still, it’s worth reiterating that Microsoft can only remove links from Bing search results and content hosted on its own servers / services.

With the initiative, Microsoft is joining a host of other tech icons in its stance against revenge porn.

Reddit updated its privacy policy in March which now prohibits sharing sexually explicit media of a person without their consent. Google recently pledged to do the same, launching a webform similar to Microsoft’s a couple of weeks ago.