WASHINGTON: Microsoft on Wednesday announced it was joining an effort to curb so-called "revenge porn," by helping victims remove links to sexually explicit images of them posted without their consent.
"When someone shares intimate images of another person online without that person's consent, the effects can be truly devastating," said Microsoft chief online safety office Jacqueline Beauchere in a blog post.
"Unfortunately, revenge porn is on the rise across the globe. It can damage nearly every aspect of a victim's life: relationships, career, social activities. In the most severe and tragic cases, it has even led to suicide."
Beauchere said Microsoft has honoured requests to take down such content, but that it has now established a new reporting page that makes the process easier.
The page is currently available in English "and will be expanded to other languages in the coming weeks," Beauchere said. "When we remove links or content, we will do so globally."
"Unfortunately, revenge porn is on the rise across the globe. It can damage nearly every aspect of a victim's life: relationships, career, social activities. In the most severe and tragic cases, it has even led to suicide."
Beauchere said Microsoft has honoured requests to take down such content, but that it has now established a new reporting page that makes the process easier.
The page is currently available in English "and will be expanded to other languages in the coming weeks," Beauchere said. "When we remove links or content, we will do so globally."