zlacker

>>rcoves+(OP)
https://twitter.com/MikaelThalen/status/1400906032176640004

A Microsoft spokesperson tells me that "accidental human error" is to blame for missing images of "tank man" on its Bing search results.

"We are actively working to resolve this."

The incident comes on the 32nd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre.

>>iso163+xL
There's no way it was accidental. It could have been a rogue employee that pushed something globally that was supposed to be limited to China...but the idea that it was an accident on the anniversary sounds like a made up story.

>>partia+HP
Or it could have been a normal employee that ticked the "censor everywhere" box rather than "censor china"

>>iso163+bR
But why would it happen today? The term is likely censored year round in China, why would it suddenly go from China to global?

>>partia+RR
The way chinese censorship works is... erm.. innovative.

There isn't an actual censor who approves stuff, or a list of things that are censored. Companies are expected to reason about it themselves. More broadly, a lot of things are more/less sensitive at particular points in time.

This does suggest that stuff was happening at msft, in anticipation of heightened sensitivity because of the 30 year anniversary.