Microsoft: 'The Pro' Xbox Live moderator 'followed protocol'

by Richard Mitchell 

A video, depicting an Xbox Live moderator (Gamertag: The Pro) banning an Xbox Live gamer during an online match of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, has caught the attention of Microsoft since its posting on YouTube yesterday. Entitled "The Pro : XBOX Live Moderator Abuses His Power," the carefully edited video, which can be viewed after the break, attempts to portray a "corrupt" moderator mercilessly wielding his banhammer and perhaps abusing his authority.

Microsoft's Major Nelson quickly made note of the production on his Twitter account, and passed the video off to Stephen Toulouse, director of Xbox Live policy and enforcement, who tweeted several comments of his own. Toulouse noted that The Pro was "policing" Modern Warfare 2 modding, which can result in Xbox Live Gold account suspensions (banning a user from online play) or complete console bans (rendering Xbox Live inaccessible).

In a statement to Joystiq, Toulouse said, "The player behavior in question and subsequent interaction with the moderator violated the Xbox Live Terms of Use and Code of Conduct. The Xbox Live moderator followed protocol and, while he regrets his tone, the video was heavily edited to omit the inappropriate behavior and we fully support the moderator's decision to take action against the offending players."

It should be noted that iTzLuPo, the YouTube user who originally uploaded the video, admits that he is a modder in his user bio, stating, "I am now part of one of the best Glitching/modding clans there is on Xbox LIVE." He also lists "Glitching/Modding/tutorials" as so-called hobbies.

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Idiot... he deserved that ban...

It's always funny when glitchers and modders declare abuse for being banned and make videos cutting out why they got banned.

Uncut version..

Well after seeing that I have to say I'm impressed the Pro had so much restraint. I don't think he acted inappropriately in any way. How much abuse is he supposed to take?

Another cheating dumbass tween off xbox live? Fuck yeah! That moderator rocks!

Ugh.... kids.

Every game needs easily accessible mute features and microphone input/output controls.

I'd much rather mute everybody in the game I'm in and if I'm playing with a friend or two, I can easily unmute them.

LOL...all the idiots who were jumping to slam thepro for doing his job and getting this little turd off XBL...instead of flaming thepro, we should be giving him a freaking medal for doing his duty and getting rid of the little shit.

BTW... iTzLuPo should his ass banned as well for spreading this shit on the internet...it's just amazing the nerve of these little shits. Extend his fucking ban for the entire month...you want to spread modded video to spread lies...that equate to a freaking ban hammer to me. Considering that ANYBODY posting comments like that freaking said to the thepro would get a perma ban on THIS VERY SITE...I'm not sure why this is a surprise.

I do the same , mute everyone but friends.

Are there a LOT of kids like that on Live? I have never ran into anyone THAT mouthy on PSN. Just a few kids calling me a fag because I was going for flags ( MW2 domination match ) instead of trying to match his amount of kills .... I Ended the match with more points then he did so he started calling me a fag because his K:D ratio was better.. good times