Microsoft Online Safety News

Every year, Safer Internet Day provides an opportunity to pause and reflect on the state of online safety – how far we’ve come and how we can continue to improve. For almost a decade, Microsoft has marked the occasion by releasing research on how individuals of all ages perceive and experience risk online. Last year,… The post Safer Internet Day 2025: Tackling abusive AI-generated content risks through education and empowerment appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) is taking legal action to ensure the safety and integrity of our AI services. In a complaint unsealed in the Eastern District of Virginia, we are pursuing an action to disrupt cybercriminals who intentionally develop tools specifically designed to bypass the safety guardrails of generative AI services, including Microsoft’s, to… The post Taking legal action to protect the public from abusive AI-generated content   appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

Since 2015, Microsoft has recognized the very real reputational, emotional, and other devastating impacts that arise when intimate imagery of a person is shared online without their consent. However, this challenge has only become more serious and more complex over time, as technology has enabled the creation of increasingly realistic synthetic or “deepfake” imagery, including… The post An update on our approach to tackling intimate image abuse appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

AI-generated deepfakes are realistic, easy for nearly anyone to make, and increasingly being used for fraud, abuse, and manipulation – especially to target kids and seniors. While the tech sector and non-profit groups have taken recent steps to address this problem, it has become apparent that our laws will also need to evolve to combat… The post Protecting the public from abusive AI-generated content  appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

Microsoft has long made clear its belief that cyber mercenaries – private sector offensive actors that develop and sell offensive cyber capabilities that fuel a market without legal rules, responsibilities, or repercussions – don’t deserve immunity. Despite measures taken by governments, regulators, and tech companies, the impact of these actors on the security of users… The post Protecting users and reaffirming our commitment to combatting cyber mercenaries appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

While millions of people use AI to supercharge their productivity and expression, there is the risk that these technologies are abused. Building on our longstanding commitment to online safety, Microsoft has joined Thorn, All Tech is Human, and other leading companies in their effort to prevent the misuse of generative AI technologies to perpetrate, proliferate,… The post Microsoft Joins Thorn and All Tech Is Human to enact strong child safety commitments for generative AI appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

Since Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, Iranian government-aligned actors have launched a series of cyberattacks and influence operations (IO) intended to help the Hamas cause and weaken Israel and its political allies and business partners. Many of Iran’s immediate operations after October 7 were hasty and chaotic – indicating it had little or no… The post Iran accelerates cyber ops against Israel from chaotic start appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

With growing interest in emerging technologies, including generative AI, Safer Internet Day provides an opportunity for people of all ages to engage and discuss online activities and safety. February 6, 2024, marks Safer Internet Day – an annual event that brings people around the world together to create a safer and better online environment for… The post Increased uptake of generative AI technology brings excitement and highlights the importance of family conversations about online safety, says new research from Microsoft appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

As we head into 2024, there is an urgent call to action for us all to take steps to protect youth safety and privacy online and to ensure that technology  – including emerging technologies such as AI – serves as a positive force for the next generation. As policymakers and regulators weigh potential measures to… The post Advancing youth online safety and wellness appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

The past year has brought to the world an almost unparalleled and diverse array of technological change. Advances in artificial intelligence are accelerating innovation and reshaping the way societies interact and operate. At the same time, cybercriminals and nation-state attackers have unleashed opposing initiatives and innovations that threaten security and stability in communities and countries… The post A new world of security: Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.