Stephen Toulouse

Stephen Toulouse
Born August 1972
Nationality USA
Other names Stepto, DJ Dragon Shirt Guy
Occupation Former Director of Xbox LIVE Policy and Enforcement, Former Co-host of "Major Nelson Radio"
Known for Xbox LIVE Policy and Enforcement
Website http://www.stepto.com/

Stephen Toulouse, also known as Stepto, former Director of Xbox LIVE Policy and Enforcement at Microsoft. He frequently represented Microsoft and Xbox Live in various media, including on Larry Hryb's "Major Nelson Radio" Xbox-related podcast, to discuss security and policy issues.

Prior to joining the Xbox team at Microsoft, Toulouse was the head of communications for security response with the Microsoft Security Response Center.

Personal

Toulouse is an avid Xbox 360 player with a gamerscore of over 130,000.[1]

Professional history

Toulouse worked at Microsoft starting in April 1994. On February 3, 2012 Stephen announced his departure from Microsoft[2] stating

"... This is a positive thing. I have nothing but confidence in the future of Microsoft and specifically Xbox and Xbox LIVE ..."

source

Microsoft Security Response Center

Toulouse joined the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) in November 2002. His first exposure to communications during a security response crisis was during the spread of the SQL Slammer computer worm in January 2003, where he was asked by Security Business Unit Vice President Mike Nash to handle creating a way for affected users to determine whether or not they had a vulnerable instance of SQL Server installed.

Toulouse later handled public relations for outbreaks such as Blaster, Sasser, and Zotob, as well as the Windows Metafile vulnerability.[3]

When Toulouse left the MSRC, he was praised by several notable security journalists for his candor and honesty about Microsoft's security challenges.[4]

Xbox Live

In August 2007, Toulouse joined the Xbox Live Services group as Lead Program Manager for Enforcement, describing his role at the time as "Helping to make sure the Live experience is a safe and enjoyable one for users."[5] Over the next years he expanded his role to include policy and enforcement for the Xbox Live and Zune Social services, building out a team of worldwide "enforcers" to implement the rules of the Xbox Live service. Toulouse was promoted to Director for Policy and Enforcement for Xbox LIVE in September 2009.

During his time as a co-host of the Xbox podcast "Major Nelson Radio," Toulouse was the public face for the rules governing behavior on the Xbox Live service and often explained and clarified policies.[6][7]

Controversy

Apple

Toulouse suggested in a personal blog entry in 2006 that Apple's products enjoyed good security due to their small market share and that the company would have to focus on hiring a "Security Czar" at some point.[8][9]

Sexuality identification on Xbox Live

In February 2009, while Toulouse was head of policy for Xbox Live, Microsoft attracted negative attention for the gaming service's policies towards members' expression of their sexual identity.[10] While the service allows for self-expression of sexual orientation in voice chat during games, at that time Xbox Live banned all mention of orientation — including of heterosexuality — in Gamertags and in profiles.[11] Widespread criticism of this practice led to Toulouse publicly vowing to change the policy to allow for expression of sexual orientation.[12] Changes announced in March 2010 permit Xbox Live members to express sexual orientation in their Gamertags and profiles.[13][14] The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has praised Toulouse for his work with their group in combating homophobia in online gaming.[15]

Performances

Toulouse was a special guest at W00tstock 2.0 in Seattle, WA and W00tstock 2.1 – Portland, OR. He read from "The Book of Enforcement" "[16]

He also provided security for the King/Queen of the Sea for both Joco Cruise Crazy 1 (2011) and 2 (2012) as the founding member of "Stepto's Army." "[17]

References

  1. ↑ "Stepto XBOX Live profile"
  2. ↑ "Xbox Live Enforcement Director Leaves Microsoft After 18 Years". Planet Xbox 360. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  3. ↑ Inside the WMF Backdoor - Mark Blog
  4. ↑ Stepto leaves MS security, goes gaming - ZDNet.com
  5. ↑ Stephen Toulouse leaving Microsoft security - Network Security Blog
  6. ↑ Major Nelson Talks GLAAD, Xbox LIVE Policy - GayGamer.net
  7. ↑ Microsoft resets Gamerscores, Toulouse explains why - Joystiq
  8. ↑ Microsoft blogger critiques Apple security - CNet News Blog
  9. ↑ Microsoft Slams Apple's Security System - ChannelWeb
  10. ↑ Consumerist: Self-identified lesbian banned from Xbox Live
  11. ↑ "theGAYERGamer" Gets Xbox Live Ban, Microsoft Explains - Kotaku
  12. ↑ Microsoft Looking To Change Xbox Live Sexual "Discrimination"
  13. ↑ "A Letter from Marc Whitten: Update to Xbox LIVE Code of Conduct". Microsoft Corporation. March 5, 2010. Archived from the original on March 8, 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  14. ↑ WOW: Xbox Live Will Let Players Mention Their Sexuality Without Getting Banned
  15. ↑ XBox Live, Homophobia, and Online Gaming Policy - GLAAD Blog
  16. ↑ W00tstock wiki
  17. ↑
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