REDMOND, WA — Microsoft has adopted a “don’t ask; don’t tell” policy regarding gamer profiles in its Xbox LIVE online community, after the software giant endured howls of outrage for tacitly allowing harassment of and then banning a user who outed herself as a lesbian.“…[M]y account was suspended because I had said in my profile that I was a lesbian,” a woman identified only as Teresa told Consumerist.com. “I was harassed by several players, ‘chased’ to different maps/games to get away from their harassment. They followed me into the games and told all the other players to turn me in because they didn’t want to see that crap or their kids to see that crap.
“Microsoft does nothing to stop [harassment] or prevent it, but instead sides with the homophobes.”
Microsoft defended its position in a response to an inquiry from Ars Technica. The company’s circular explanation didn’t rule out self-identification of sexual orientation, but it didn’t wholeheartedly support the notion, either.
“As stated in the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use, a member may not create a gamertag or use text in other profile fields that include comments that look, sound like, stand for, hint at, abbreviate, or insinuate content of a potentially sexual nature,” the company noted. “Profiles that do are asked to change the language and suspended until changes are made. In regards to sexual orientation, for gamertags or profiles we do not allow expression of any type of orientation, be that hetero or other. Players can, however, self-identify in voice communication where context is more easily explained to all players involved.”
According to Microsoft, complaints about the potential effect on children of Teresa’s sexual orientation were the deciding factors in the company’s decision to suspend the woman’s account. However, Xbox LIVE isn’t known to be a particularly safe haven for kids. The community is rife with graphic violence and bigotry.
Microsoft is not the first company to face condemnation at the hands of outraged users in the face of apparent censorship. Sony got an object lesson last year when members of the electronics manufacturer’s Home community reacted badly to the news Sony considered terms like “gay” and “Jew” too offensive to be posted.
