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Microsoft is reportedly banning Palestinians in the U.S. for life for calling relatives in Gaza (www.windowscentral.com)

submitted 4 months ago by Linkerbaan@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

276 comments fedilink hide all child comments

A BBC investigation reveals that Microsoft is permanently banning Palestinians in the U.S. and other countries who use Skype to call relatives in Gaza.

Reportedly, Microsoft has been banning and wiping the accounts of users who have leveraged Skype to contact relatives in Gaza. In some cases, email accounts over a decade old have been locked, destroying access to banking accounts, OneDrive storage, and beyond.

United States resident Salah Elsadi lost his account of over 15 years in the dragnet. "I've had this Hotmail for 15 years. They banned me for no reason, saying I have violated their terms — what terms? Tell me. I've filled out about 50 forms and called them many many times." Eiad Hametto from Saudi Arabia echoed the report, "We are civilians with no political background who just wanted to check on our families. They’ve suspended my email account that I’ve had for nearly 20 years. It was connected to all my work. They killed my life online."

Many of the users affected by the bans expressed that Microsoft may be falsely labelling them as Hamas

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[–] Bezier@suppo.fi 17 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

well it wasn't for no reason, it was for stupid reason, which is different

Yeah, guess I ovesimplified a bit. For anyone not aware, it was one report of racism towards a delivery driver.

The accusation was completely false, and even if the guy actually were a racist pos, remotely disabling devices he paid for and owns is not a good road to go on.

[–] 14th_cylon@lemm.ee 6 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, guess I ovesimplified a bit. For anyone not aware, it was one report of racism towards a delivery driver.

ok, that doesn't even make sense, but it shows how wildly different and random the "reasons" can be.

i was thinking about the case where guy took a photo of some rash on his son's penis to send it to a doctor and some automated system flagged it as child pornography.

[–] brbposting@sh.itjust.works 6 points 4 months ago (1 children)

EFF: Google’s Scans of Private Photos Led to False Accusations of Child Abuse

Based on NYT reporting: A Dad Took Photos of His Naked Toddler for the Doctor. Google Flagged Him as a Criminal.

Wild. Obviously I want treatment for all the sick people abusing kids but that automated flagging was not the way.

Google Photos: showing your son’s penis rash to underpaid randos but calling the cops on you

[–] 14th_cylon@lemm.ee 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

underpaid randos

while you are technically correct, i would refrain from disrespecting these poor people.

Facebook content moderators in Kenya call the work ‘torture.’ Their lawsuit may ripple worldwide

By EVELYNE MUSAMBI and CARA ANNA Published 9:52 AM GMT+2, June 29, 2023

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — On the verge of tears, Nathan Nkunzimana recalled watching a video of a child being molested and another of a woman being killed.

Eight hours a day, his job as a content moderator for a Facebook contractor required him to look at horrors so the world wouldn’t have to. Some overwhelmed colleagues would scream or cry, he said.

https://apnews.com/article/kenya-facebook-content-moderation-lawsuit-8215445b191fce9df4ebe35183d8b322

https://www.wired.com/story/meta-kenya-lawsuit-outsourcing-content-moderation/

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-57088382

[–] brbposting@sh.itjust.works 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I remember that story. Thanks for that perspective - certainly, no disrespect is intended. In the context of people who should ever see your child in the nude, social media company employees are strangers which I used a synonym for. Strangers who aren’t paid enough for what they do. “Underpaid randos” sounds OK at the moment but I’ll sleep on it.

[–] 14th_cylon@lemm.ee 2 points 4 months ago

no disrespect is intended

i didn't mean to accuse of anything, it is just morbidly interesting how many layers there are to this modern dystopia we are being lured into right now.

before reading that story, i wouldn't give content moderators second thought as well.