However, some of this content may be in violation of the Terms of Use or may be inappropriate, such as content with violence, nudity, discrimination or copyright infringement.

To remove this inappropriate content, Steam uses the so-called UGC system, which is based on image recognition and machine learning.

Images and screenshots created and uploaded by users are copied and analyzed by the UGC system. Technologies such as Amazon Rekognition and Google Vision are used to automatically detect and remove inappropriate content. This also includes facial recognition and classification technologies.

Users on Steam should be familiar with the system especially through the "Mature Content Warning".

Filtering through the UGC system is done to protect users and the platform itself from inappropriate content and create a safe and comfortable space for the community. Despite everything, it cannot be avoided that content is incorrectly recognized as inappropriate and removed. However, Steam also has mechanisms for reviewing and invoking removed content to ensure that legitimate content is not mistakenly removed.

As already described in the article Blocking Steamcloud Uploads copies of the files uploaded by users are created and distributed and filtered on several servers of Amazon.com, Inc., Google, LLC and Akamai Technologies.

Amazon Rekognition

Core features of Amazon Rekognition allow Steam's UGC service to automatically filter and analyze user-generated content to ensure it complies with policies and restrictions. Core functions include

1. Image and video analysis: Amazon Rekognition is able to analyze images and videos in real time to recognize and identify objects, faces, text, and other features.
2. Facial recognition: Amazon Rekognition's facial recognition allows faces to be recognized and identified in images and videos, including identifying facial expressions and emotions.
3. Text recognition: Amazon Rekognition can recognize and extract text in images and videos to make it easier to search and index content.
4. Object detection: Amazon Rekognition can detect and identify objects in images and videos, including identifying categories such as animals, plants, vehicles, and more.
5. Content moderation: Amazon Rekognition can review and filter content for inappropriate or offensive materials to ensure they comply with policies and restrictions.
6. Detecting violence and hate speech: Amazon Rekognition can detect and identify violence and hate speech in images and videos to facilitate content moderation.

Google Vision

Google Vision is a powerful image recognition and analysis tool that provides various core features that can be used in conjunction with Steam UGC (User Generated Content). Some of the key features are

1. Object recognition: Google Vision can recognize and classify objects in images. This feature can be used in Steam UGC to ensure that no inappropriate or prohibited objects are included in the content created by users.
2. Text recognition: Google Vision can recognize and extract text in images. This feature can be used in Steam UGC to ensure that there are no inappropriate or offensive words in the content created by users.
3. Face recognition: Google Vision can recognize and identify faces in images. This feature can be used in Steam UGC to ensure that there are no inappropriate or unwanted faces in the content created by users.
4. Logo recognition: Google Vision can recognize and identify logos in images. This feature can be used in Steam UGC to ensure that no inappropriate or copyrighted logos are included in user-created content.
5. Landmark Recognition: Google Vision can recognize and identify famous places in images. This feature can be used in Steam UGC to ensure that no inappropriate or copyrighted locations are included in user-created content.
6. Moderation: Google Vision also provides a moderation feature that allows users to automatically check generated content for inappropriate or prohibited content. This feature can be used in Steam UGC to ensure that only secure and appropriate content is published on the platform.

Data protection & Privacy

User data on Steam includes everything that users can upload and publish. These can be e.g. avatars, photos, metadata, screenshots, artworks, game videos, mods, cards, skins and much more. These can be your own creations or adjustments to existing content.

Collecting and analyzing images and screenshots of users through the UGC system poses potential privacy issues. Users should always be aware that sharing personal data and information with third parties always carries a risk and that they should take their own security precautions to protect their privacy.

Data should never be given lightly. Not even on a gaming platform