Bing’s main goal as an online search engine is to link people with the most pertinent search results from the internet, making it simple for users to access high-quality material created by web publishers. In order to accomplish this, Bing automatically crawls the internet in order to compile an index of fresh and updated web pages (or URLs) that it will use to present search results that are pertinent to a user’s query or activity. These pages’ content may make references to or include material from a variety of internet sources, such as websites, photos, videos, documents, and other resources. Computer algorithms are used to create search results by matching the search phrases you provide with items in our index. Generally speaking, we strive to offer a thorough and helpful
compilation of the search results that are presented. Our algorithms are created—and regularly enhanced—to deliver the most pertinent and beneficial outcomes.
Bing is an algorithmically driven service, therefore it has no control over how the indexed websites function or look, or what content they post. It will typically be accessible through Bing or other search engines as long as a website keeps making content available on the internet and to crawlers.
Tip: You can use the Content Removal Tool to submit a page removal or obsolete cache removal request if material has been deleted from the website but is still appearing in Bing search results. To find out more information about the Content Removal Tool, go to Bing Webmaster Help & How-To.
Microsoft recognises the right to free speech. At the same time, Bing has created a safety system with content filtering, operational monitoring, and abuse detection to provide a secure search experience for our users in line with Microsoft policies and principles around Responsible AI, privacy, digital safety, information integrity, and other critical issues. In rare instances where quality, safety, user demand, applicable laws, and/or public policy concerns exist and Microsoft receives requests to remove content from people, companies, and governments, Bing may remove results, warn users of specific risks, or give users options for customising their content. In order to prevent limiting users’ access to pertinent information, Bing restricts the removal of search results to a certain range of situations and conditions.
The methods and circumstances used by Bing are described here. Bing tries to be upfront about removal when search results are deleted. This involves giving users notice at the bottom of the page that search results are being removed. Also, as part of the Microsoft Content Removal Requests Report, we provide information on search results that Bing has deleted.
Governments, individuals, or other parties may make legal requests.
The removal of access to specific indexed sites is mandated by laws or rules that some nations have in place and that apply to search service providers. While some of these regulations are regulated and enforced by the government, others permit certain people or organisations to request the removal of results (for copyright infringement, libel, defamation, personally identifiable information, hate speech, or other personal rights).
Bing balances its support for free speech and open access to pertinent content with adherence to local law when Microsoft receives a request or demand. We examine and evaluate the request or demand, taking into account the justification and foundation for it, the asking party’s power or rights, any relevant policies, and our promises to our users regarding the right to free speech and assess if and how much access should be taken away from the content.
Examples of legal requests having international perspectives
documents involving child sex abuse
Everyone agree that it is wrong and widely condemned to produce, distribute, and have access to materials that depict child sexual exploitation. Regrettably, child abuse is nothing new, but the internet gives those who want to harm children additional chances. To limit the spread of this heinous information online, Bing collaborates with other members of technology and business groups, law enforcement, and governmental and non-governmental organisations. One method we accomplish this is by eliminating sites that have been determined to include or link to the sexual exploitation or abuse of minors after being examined by reliable agencies (or recognised by Microsoft PhotoDNA). Bing scans user-uploaded pictures using PhotoDNA as well. visual search tool for images that might be used for abuse and exploitation. The Microsoft Services Agreement governs user behaviour on Bing.
We specifically delete pages from our index that the Internet Watch Foundation (UK), NCMEC (US), and FSM (Germany) have determined, in their good faith opinion, host or offer access to content including child sexual abuse. Although the content may still be accessible online and found using search engines other than Bing, by removing these links from search results, it becomes harder for anyone to find it or use it for their own gain.
copyright violation
the owner of copyrighted content, provided we receive a valid copyright infringement notification from the copyright owner or their designated representative.
Please visit our Report Infringement page if you are a rights holder with concerns regarding the content of a website that Bing links to or a Bing advertisement.
User desire, superiority, and security
Bing may decide to eliminate specific results, warn or educate users, or provide them the option to customise results in certain situations pertaining to quality, safety, and what our users want.
Bing supports users’ rights to engage in uses that could be permitted by relevant copyright laws while also promoting respect for intellectual property, including copyrights. Links to websites that include content that violates the rights of others may be removed by Bing from its search results.
Examples of user desire, quality, and safety
Spam
Some pages that are included in the Bing index end up being of little or no benefit to users. They may also include features that intentionally skew the way that search and advertising systems function in order to make them appear more relevant than other pages that provide more useful information. Several of these pages include nothing but adverts and/or links to other websites that primarily feature advertisements, with little or very little information that is pertinent to the search’s topic. To enhance the Bing may eliminate such search results or change its algorithms to give more relevant and helpful pages a higher priority in search results in order to improve user experience and offer more relevant information.
Private information, including the sharing of graphic photographs without consent
Inadvertently or on purpose, sensitive personal information about identifiable individuals may occasionally be uploaded on publicly accessible webpages in conditions that compromise security or privacy. Examples include the unintentional posting of personal information such as email passwords, login information, credit card numbers, and other details that could be used for fraud or hacking, as well as the malicious posting of information such as private records, phone numbers, and identification numbers. Bing will delete such search results after verification.
Another illustration is when someone publishes explicit content online about another individual without that person’s permission. Culturally, this is a heinous breach of private known as “revenge” or nonconsensual intimate images.
After evaluation, Bing may delete references to retaliation porn photographs and videos from search results, allowing victims to regain control over their own images and privacy. Victims may fill out a form on our reporting website to report unlawful internet photographs and videos.
As stated in the form, even if Bing removes a pertinent search result, the material will still be accessible online. The person who owns the website is best placed to resolve privacy issues with the data it posts. In order to have content removed off the web, victims will need to get in touch with these website owners.
Mature material
Most users may choose the level of adult content filtering they would want to be applied to their search results using Bing’s SafeSearch settings. When it wasn’t asked, Bing wishes to avoid displaying anything that can be dangerous or offending. SafeSearch is often set to Moderate by default in most nations or areas, which limits search results that are visually explicit but does not limit results that are explicitly textual.
Regarding the exhibition of sexual content, certain nations or regions may have differing local conventions, religious or cultural values, or local legislation (or search results accessing adult content). Certain nations’ default SafeSearch settings for Bing may be impacted by this. We make an effort to update these assessments when the pertinent regional laws, customs, and norms change.
unauthorised medications
Bing has taken action to lessen the chance that consumers would be harmed by online drug transactions in order to uphold its commitment to giving users reliable results. Rogue online pharmacies listed on the FDA’s Internet Pharmacy Warning Letters website are blocked by Bing in the US. The FDA, which is the primary federal regulating organisation for the pharmaceutical business in the US, compiles this list of unreliable and dangerous internet pharmacies. Further details are available from the FDA at BeSafeRx: Know Your Online Pharmacy. Also, Bing offers cautions for some online pharmacies that have been flagged by trade associations as potentially unsafe, such as those on the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy’s Not Recommended list. Bing has a PSA as well to ensure that our users are safe.
understand that consumers should not assume an online pharmacy is secure and offers the customer the tools they need to make better educated selections, even if there is no warning linked with the website in our search results.
Public service messages and cautions
Microsoft Bing may provide public service announcements (PSA) to assist users in making informed decisions when it considers there is a considerable risk of damage to users due to the material showing in search results for specific queries. For instance, when a user’s inquiry indicates a potential suicidal intent, Bing offers links to services for suicide prevention. When Microsoft Bing has verified evidence that a link includes potentially hazardous or unlawful content, it will additionally display warning messages next to specific URLs that appear in search results. These warnings are displayed for links to websites that Microsoft Bing has identified as containing malicious software that might harm a user’s computer. Moreover, Microsoft Bing warns US users of any discovered links as a “Not Recommended Site” by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®).
Suggestions that are connected to autosuggest
Bing offers query recommendations through autosuggest and related suggestions (“AS/RS”), which are either based on the first few characters you input in the search box or the most recent query run. The popularity of other closely relevant searches on Bing is used to provide algorithmically generated AS/RS suggestions. Relevance indications like search history, trends, geography, language, etc. may also be taken into account when making suggestions. Furthermore using natural language generation technologies honed on query sets is Bing’s AS/RS.
By combining proactive, reactive, algorithmic, and manual measures, Bing aims to stop improper, offensive, or damaging predictions from surfacing in AS/RS. Bing’s fundamental tenet is to refrain from directing users to potentially hazardous or offensive information by deleting AS/RS that could expose users to objectionable stuff they weren’t specifically looking for.
helps to guarantee that Bing upholds its values.
Picture Maker and conversational search on Bing To give consumers a new kind of search interface, Bing conversational search builds on the existing Bing experience. The same rules that apply to other sections of this document’s content also apply to content that appears in conversational search and comparable capabilities. Where appropriate, Bing may take down information from conversational searches that is against the law or a Microsoft policy. Conversational search and Bing Picture Maker are both governed by the Bing users’ content policy. Those who flagrantly violate the Content Guidelines or do so regularly may occasionally have their access to Bing restricted. Users may offer comments or report problematic content found in conversational search and Image Maker.
Associated Topics
Submit a request to remove content from Bing
