Microsoft has reported a significant increase in moderation and safety enforcements on its Xbox online community, according to its third Xbox Transparency Report. The company has issued a record 19.56 million enforcement actions from January to June 2023, nearly doubling the prior six-month figure of 10.19 million. Detailed in its new Xbox Transparency Report, these efforts underscore Microsoft's commitment to a safer gaming environment.
At the core of these enforcement actions, a substantial number are identified as “proactive” by Microsoft. These measures are designed to detect and prevent problematic content from ever reaching players' screens. Over 4.7 million pieces of content were stymied in this way, which includes a substantial 39% rise in intercepted imagery, attributed to the recently integrated Turing Bletchley v3 foundational model.
Targeting Cheating and False Accounts
The pivotal focus of Xbox's moderation has been addressing issues such as cheating and the creation of false accounts. These represent the bulk of reasons for which users faced enforcements during the reported period. Microsoft's proactive system leverages advanced technology to detect and take action against these and other violations, aiming to foster a fair and authentic gaming experience for all Xbox users.
In the realm of policing communication, Microsoft has improved mechanisms for players to report offensive voice chats. Introduced in June 2023, this feature allows players to easily document and submit instances of such conduct for review by the Xbox safety team.
Investing in Player Behavior Modification
Further developments, such as the revamped Xbox Enforcement Strike System unveiled in August, illustrate Microsoft's endeavor to modify player behavior through accountability. This system assigns strikes for reported infringements of the platform's community standards. Accumulating a substantial number of strikes could result in suspensions extending up to one year from Xbox services. Microsoft shares that following an enforcement action, the majority of players abstain from repeat violations and contribute positively to the online community.
Complementing these technical strides, Microsoft is also reaching out directly to families. With the launch of Xbox Gaming Safety Toolkits in Japan and Singapore, the company aims to equip parents with the necessary resources and knowledge to protect their children in the digital gaming community.
