Neowin News Feed for: Policy

Microsoft explains extremely confusing Teams meeting recording policy

Usama Jawad — Fri, 08 May 2026 15:18:01 +0000

Microsoft has explained a confusing Teams recording policy that many admins misunderstood, while also highlighting another Teams Premium perk. Read more...

Microsoft gives IT admins new kill switch for pre-installed Windows 11 apps

Usama Jawad — Fri, 01 May 2026 07:56:02 +0000

Microsoft expands Windows 11 policy that lets IT admins dynamically remove preinstalled apps, adding broader control and rollout via a recent update. Read more...

OpenAI unveils 20-point plan to boost Europe's AI adoption

Paul Hill — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 09:40:01 +0000

OpenAI and Allied for Startups have released a new report that outlines 20 points they wish to persuade the EU to adopt. Read more...

Microsoft confirms Intune is broken right now

Usama Jawad — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 12:16:01 +0000

Microsoft Intune is broken right now and might cause headaches for IT admins if they attempt to update their security baseline profiles. Read more...

UK considering making USB-C the common charging standard, following the EU

Steve Bennett — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 10:28:01 +0000

The UK Government has begin a consultation into whether USB-C should be made a common charging standard. Read more...

European Court of Human Rights rules against government backdoors in end-to-end encryption

Martin Hodás — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 07:20:01 +0000

The discussion about law enforcers' access to end-to-end encrypted communication reached a key milestone in Europe. A court says, essentially, that implementing such a measure would be illegal. Read more...

Google announces the 'Transparency Center,' a new hub for its product policies

Steve Bennett — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 16:42:02 +0000

Google has launched a new page on its platform, named the "Transparency Center," it acts as a one stop shop for all of Google's product policies and resources for everyone to access and view. Read more...

TikTok revamps guidelines to address AI, climate change misinformation, and more

Karthik Mudaliar — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 12:24:01 +0000

TikTok has refreshed its community guidelines and added a few new sections in an attempt to better address the concerns with AI-generated content, age restrictions and misinformation. Read more...

Google shares its concerns regarding tougher rules for political advertising in the EU

Usama Jawad — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 08:50:01 +0000

With the European Union (EU) working on tougher rules for political content and advertising on digital platforms, Google has shared five concerns that should be addressed for fairer laws. Read more...

Microsoft Compliance Extension for Chrome is now generally available

Usama Jawad — Fri, 28 May 2021 05:06:01 +0000

Microsoft's Compliance Extension for Chrome has hit GA. It enables organizations to utilize Data Loss Prevention and Insider Risk Management solutions to set up fine-grained policies on Chrome. Read more...

Microsoft pokes fun at WhatsApp privacy fiasco, recommends Skype instead

Usama Jawad — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 09:24:01 +0000

Following WhatsApp updating its privacy policy to indicate that user data will be shared with Facebook, Microsoft has jumped in on the opportunity to recommend that users migrate to Skype instead. Read more...

Facebook will allow ads for COVID-19 vaccines, as long as they are not for commercial gain

Usama Jawad — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 07:06:02 +0000

Facebook will now allow ads that promote COVID-19 vaccines as a way to stop the spread of the virus. However, it will ban exploitative ads and those that claim it to be a cure for the virus. Read more...

YouTube plans to curb content promoting harmful conspiracy theories

Usama Jawad — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 03:50:01 +0000

After announcing that it would be removing videos containing misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines, YouTube has now stated that it will be removing all content promoting harmful conspiracy theories. Read more...

Facebook bans QAnon representing accounts across all platforms

Hamza Khan — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 04:12:01 +0000

The social media giant bans groups, pages, as well as Instagram accounts related to QAnon. The policy update came after the firm's previous attempt to stop the surging misinformation. Read more...

YouTube bolsters policy against dangerous content, including the Bird Box challenge

Jay Bonggolto — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 12:26:01 +0000

YouTube has renewed its efforts to ban videos containing dangerous stunts like the Bird Box challenge and Tide pod challenge. The policy also applies to pranks that may traumatize children. Read more...

Epic Games Store updates refund policy, now in line with Steam

Usama Jawad — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 19:54:02 +0000

Following in Steam's footsteps, Epic has updated its store's refund policy, allowing users to return games that were purchased less than 14 days ago and have been played less than a couple of hours. Read more...

Twitter will now flag offending tweets that break its rules

Muhammad Jarir Kanji — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 03:32:01 +0000

In a new change to the site, Twitter has announced that it will now explicitly show if a tweet you reported has been removed by the site's moderators for violating its terms of service. Read more...

Study reveals Iran tried to sway public opinion in its favor via social media

Sharath Ravishankar — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 19:58:02 +0000

Analysis of Twitter data has revealed that Iran - much like Russia has in recent times - tried to pull a fast one: the country made use of troll farms in order to sway public opinion in its favor. Read more...

Twitter seeks to ban dehumanizing language on its platform in new policy

Jay Bonggolto — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 07:56:01 +0000

Twitter is gathering public feedback on proposed rules meant to ban dehumanizing language on its platform. The comment period runs until October 9 and Twitter will share the details later this year. Read more...

Microsoft will require suppliers to provide paid parental leave to their employees

Jay Bonggolto — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 04:52:01 +0000

Over the next 12 months, Microsoft will be working with its suppliers to implement the new policy, which offers a minimum of 12 weeks of paid parental leave to employees and up to $1,000 per week. Read more...

YouTube bans viral ad for The Nun due to violation of its 'shocking content' policy

Usama Jawad — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 16:52:01 +0000

YouTube has banned a disturbing advertisement for The Nun that popped up for unsuspecting viewers without warning. The promotional material was potentially harmful for heart patients, among others. Read more...

Google bars crypto mining apps and more restricted content from the Play Store

Jay Bonggolto — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 04:02:01 +0000

Google no longer allows apps that mine cryptocurrency or serve disruptive ads to users, among other banned content on the Play Store as reflected in an update to its developer policies. Read more...

YouTube announces new punishments for harmful content creators

Usama Jawad — Sat, 10 Feb 2018 07:56:01 +0000

Following egregious behavior by content creators such as Logan Paul, YouTube will now be taking strict action against harmful channels, which includes suspension of ad revenue and removal from YPP. Read more...

Policies for snaps shipped with Ubuntu being created

Paul Hill — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 15:16:02 +0000

Canonical has begun the process of formulating policies surrounding snap packages that could ship in Ubuntu by default in future releases. Policies are important to ensure stability of the software. Read more...

Facebook bans ads for cryptocurrencies, ICOs and binary options

John Keefer — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 00:06:01 +0000

Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies have been all the rage of late. With Bitcoin trading at more than $10,000 at the moment, plenty of people want in on the action, including those trying to scam you. Read more...

Zuckerberg takes fixing Facebook's issues as 2018 personal challenge

John Keefer — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 22:02:01 +0000

Facebook has been under the microscope quite a bit over the last year, from meetings with Congress over fake news to accusations of improperly enforcing is own policies. The CEO wants that to change. Read more...

Twitter clarifies existing rules to explain enforcement rationale

John Keefer — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 18:50:01 +0000

The company has come under fire over the last several months as a haven for hate speech and online abuse, with patchwork enforcement of existing rules. It has now tried to clarify its policies. Read more...

Apple now lets you tip developers through in-app purchases, takes a slice for itself

Paul Hill — Sat, 10 Jun 2017 14:22:01 +0000

Apple has introduced some big changes to its App Store policy. The main change is that users can now tip app developers, officially, through an in-app purchase. Apple will take a 30% cut of every tip. Read more...

Noose tightens for piracy-enabled Kodi boxes

Paul Hill — Thu, 25 May 2017 13:38:01 +0000

Facebook has introduced a new clause on its Commerce Policy which bans the sale of piracy-enabling devices on its website. The move tightens the means users can acquire pre-configured devices. Read more...

AVG can sell your browsing history to third parties

Luke Payne — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 02:58:01 +0000

Security firm AVG has come under fire for recent updates to their privacy policy. The new policy explicitly gives the company the ability to sell browsing and search history to third parties. Read more...

Apple now offers 14-day returns for App Store and iTunes purchases in Europe

Jerry Grey — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 07:44:01 +0000

In a complete reversal of its no refunds policy on App Store and iTunes purchases, Apple has been forced by EU lawmakers to offer a 14-day money back guarantee on purchases in Europe. Read more...

If your kids made in-app purchases without your consent, Google may refund you

Usama Jawad — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 13:22:01 +0000

Has your child made in-app purchases in games and apps without your permission? Google is willing to compensate those unauthorized expenses if you are eligible for their refund policy. Read more...

Bill Gates and other Microsoft alumni donate funds backing Washington gun safety law

Anthony Tosie — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 17:32:01 +0000

Bill and Melinda Gates have given $1 million to a Washington group attempting to create a new state gun safety law, and former Microsoft leaders have also donated hundreds of thousands of dollars. Read more...

Twitter updates policy after Williams death pics abuse on daughters account

Steven Parker — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 07:21:27 +0000

The Internet never fails to create new lows when a celebrity dies, this time around Twitter has been forced to update its policy after gruesome images appeared on Zelda Williams account. Read more...

Microsoft updates Terms of Use for higher privacy, transparency and simplicity

Steven Johns — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 06:30:07 +0000

Microsoft will be updating the existing Terms of Use and Privacy policies to allow for more privacy, transparency and simplicity. New updates to these will take effect on 31st July, 2014. Read more...

Big tech companies are defying U.S. authorities for the sake of transparency

Brockman Davis — Sun, 04 May 2014 21:56:38 +0000

Apple, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and later, Yahoo, are making changes to their policies to try and step away from giving in to government requests for big data, which could be good and bad. Read more...

Microsoft will no longer access email accounts that steal company IP

Brad Sams — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 19:05:02 +0000

Microsoft has announced that it will no longer access email accounts that they suspect have stolen company IP and will instead turn that information over to the police for a proper investigation. Read more...

Ask.fm revises safety policy after user suicide

Paul Ferson — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 11:57:32 +0000

After the suicide of an Ask.fm user relating to abusive questions, the site has announced a new safety policy, to come into effect in September. The change provides more straightforward reports. Read more...

Amazon closes security hole, quietly

Andrew Stevenson — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 09:29:14 +0000

Just last week Mat Honan, a journalist for Wired, had his digital life destroyed by hackers taking control of his Amazon and Apple accounts. Now Amazon has closed the hole that led to the attack. Read more...

Teacher aide fired for not providing Facebook password

Stefano Elia — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:31:06 +0000

A teacher's aide was fired due to content on her Facebook and refusing to give her Facebook password to her employer, now she's embroiled in a legal battle with the school district. Read more...