MSN Comments arbitrarily blocked by dysfunctional application of community guide lines

David P 0 Reputation points
2026-05-10T14:18:55.31+00:00

This is a general issue of abuse by MSN with blocks and sanctions against comments that fully comply with it's community guidelines. I and others run into this problem on a regular basis and it could be deemed to be some sort of selective discrimination.
In this example https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/3853316/why-are-msn-comments-censored-in-a-manner-that-ess a volunteer MS appointed moderator acknowledges the problem and that fact that we may not receive an answer to queries or complaints from Microsoft. In fact the answer on this question from 'Anonymous', it does appear to have been answered by Microsoft but we can't read it! At the bottom of the page it states that Microsoft has deleted it's own answer due to "a violation of our code of conduct".
Do you have any idea of how ridiculous this is an how unacceptable it is to continually damage the reputation of MS subscription payers with community strikes? As a further complaint, you also frequently allow unacceptable comments without interception.
There is no recourse to your code of conduct. It in effect operates illegally against national laws. Microsoft is not compliant.
Are you going to do anything about this? Your code of conduct does not work.

The full response to a subscriber from the above link is quoted below:

Deleted

This answer has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The answer was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.

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  1. AI answer

    2026-05-10T14:19:28.9833333+00:00

    MSN article comments, blocks, and sanctions are controlled by MSN’s own moderation systems and feedback channels, not by Microsoft Q&A or Learn.

    Key points based on current guidance:

    1. MSN uses automated and human moderation
      • All MSN content and comments are reviewed by a mix of automated filters and human moderators.
      • Automated systems can incorrectly flag compliant comments or accounts, including benign or short replies.
      • Comments may be blocked with generic “does not meet community guidelines” messages even when they appear to follow the rules.
    2. Code of Conduct and moderation scope
      • The Microsoft Q&A Code of Conduct and the Microsoft Feedback Code of Conduct require that posts be respectful, non‑harassing, and free of prohibited content such as spam, phishing, malware, defamation, or illegal activity.
      • Moderation actions (including deletions) can be triggered either by user reports or automated detection.
      • When an answer or comment is deleted with a message like “deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct,” it indicates that it was flagged and removed under those policies; the specific content is not exposed once removed.
    3. No direct support path from Q&A for MSN comment issues
      • Microsoft Q&A and Learn moderators cannot see, override, or adjust MSN’s comment filters, sanctions, or strikes.
      • There is no separate support or escalation channel for MSN comment moderation through Q&A; issues with MSN comments must be handled through MSN’s own feedback mechanisms.
    4. How to raise issues about wrongful blocks or sanctions
      • Use the built‑in feedback mechanism on MSN pages:
        1. Open an MSN article where comments appear.
        2. At the bottom (or lower right) of the MSN page, select the Feedback option.
        3. Describe the issue clearly: that compliant comments are being blocked, that account strikes or restrictions appear unjustified, and (if possible) include examples of the blocked text without offensive language.
        4. Submit the feedback so the MSN team can review how moderation (including AI systems) is handling the account and content.
      • For content rejections or moderation issues on MSN partner content, refer to the “Troubleshoot MSN content rejections and moderation issues” guidance, which explains how to see rejection reasons and appeal decisions via MSN Partner Hub.
    5. About perceived inconsistency or discrimination
      • The documented policies emphasize that fraudulent, misleading, harassing, or illegal content is not allowed, and that off‑topic or irrelevant content may be removed.
      • Automated moderation can lead to inconsistent outcomes, including:
        • Compliant comments being blocked.
        • Some unacceptable comments not being intercepted immediately.
      • The only documented recourse is to report these issues via the MSN feedback tools so the moderation team can adjust filters or correct errors; there is no guarantee of a direct, individualized response.
    6. What can be done from the community/Q&A side
      • Community members and moderators can:
        • Point affected users to the official Code of Conduct and feedback channels.
        • Encourage use of the “Report abuse” and feedback links when moderation appears incorrect.
      • They cannot:
        • Remove or alter MSN strikes or sanctions.
        • Restore deleted MSN comments or answers.
        • Change how MSN’s moderation algorithms function.

    In summary, issues with MSN comment blocking, sanctions, or perceived misuse of the Code of Conduct must be raised through MSN’s feedback mechanisms. The moderation and enforcement behavior described is governed by the existing Code of Conduct and feedback terms, and any changes to how those systems operate can only be made by the MSN/Microsoft product teams, not by Q&A or Learn.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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