New Bing API policies: corpus search needs

Vadim Berman 20

We wanted to use Bing API to look up word forms in foreign languages and utilize the count of the results found in a programmatic flow. With the GPT story, Bing changed their policies to prohibit machine learning "and similar" applications.

We are not competing nor trying to train an ML engine based on Bing, but it appears that our use case is no longer allowed.

Is this the case? And if yes, is there a simple stripped down corpus-like search API, Bing or not?

romungi-MSFT 42,786 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2023-02-17T10:54:32.3266667+00:00

@Vadim Berman Are you referring to the bing search engine for bing.com and the introduction of the chat experience and the changes in its policy?

I think you can still access the bing web search API offering by creating a bing resource in Azure and call it programmatically. Is this what you are looking for?
Vadim Berman 20 Reputation points

2023-02-17T13:20:33.2933333+00:00

I can absolutely access it programmatically. From the technical perspective, nothing changed.

If, however, you read the second sentence, the word No. 8 is policies. Bing changed the policies and now explicitly prohibits any use that does not show the search results to the user, and especially "machine learning and similar" applications.

I understand why: it is to prevent building a competitor to ChatGPT. We're not building a competitor and not sucking search results to train a deep learning model. Still, we may fall under their definition, hence the question.

I don't want to run afoul of Microsoft's policies, which is why I'm asking the question.
romungi-MSFT 42,786 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2023-02-20T06:26:05.65+00:00

Are you referring to this page as part of the bing search API documentation?
Vadim Berman 20 Reputation points

2023-02-20T07:50:42.5066667+00:00
Interesting, thanks! Looks like the policy page was not updated!

No, I am referring to a policy update notice I received. It does, however, point to this page (Use and display requirements):

Do not:

Copy, store, or cache any data from responses (except retention to the extent permitted by continuity of service).

Use data received from the Search APIs as part of any machine learning or similar algorithmic activity. Do not use this data to train, evaluate, or improve new or existing services that you or third parties might offer.

...

Omit attribution information and URLs associated with results content.

In our case, all we need is the count of results returned. Can we still use it?
Vadim Berman 20 Reputation points

2023-02-20T07:53:10.08+00:00

Interesting, thanks. No, looks like your page was not updated.

I am referring to a notice that points to this page under "Do not" section.

All we need is a count of the search results. Can we use it?

Accepted answer

romungi-MSFT 42,786 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2023-02-20T08:53:40.4333333+00:00

Vadim Berman Thanks for sharing the exact page. I think as per the current requirements your scenario does seem to fall under the restrictions if the user results are not used for display purposes. However, as you may have noticed that there is a non-display URL discovery terms that you can review and check if the search is made for discovery purpose if initiated by user. However, this also has restrictions on improve services that you or third parties might offer.

Is there a simple stripped down corpus-like search API, Bing or not?

For the above question, there is no stripped-down version of bing. Since you have mentioned using the words to lookup in foreign languages you might want to check out Azure translator service.
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Vadim Berman 20 Reputation points

2023-02-20T09:02:15.4366667+00:00

Thank you. Sorry, the translator service does not work for us, we really want to see the use in real world.

Is there a chance I can show our application to someone from the product team and maybe get them to revise their policies a bit?

We're clearly not a threat to MSFT's strategic goals and we want to be a customer.

romungi-MSFT 42,786 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2023-02-20T17:08:32.8833333+00:00

Vadim Berman You might have to use the support route by raising a case from Azure portal to seek advise for the product group to explain your scenario.
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New Bing API policies: corpus search needs

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