Valve tests filter against swearing and swearing in chats

Valve has added a new experiment to Steam Labs: Steam Text & Chat Filtering. Allows users to set Steam to filter swear words and other inappropriate language from chats.

By default, the filter feature removes the most commonly used swear words that players use on Steam. Users can set whether to filter curses, insults, both or neither. They can also enter words themselves that Steam Text & Chat Filtering should remove from chats. In addition, there is an option to leave chats from friends untouched.

This is an extension of the system that Valve already uses for chats in its games such as CS: GO, Destiny 2 and Dota 2. Signing up for the beta activates the filter function for other games on Steam Chat via the client, the mobile app and the website. Developers must build in support for this. In the future, Valve may revise the settings user-generated content apply, the company reports.

The filter option does not remove all unwanted swear words by default, according to the developers, but adding words to their personal list helps them improve the functionality for everyone, probably by adding the most frequently entered words to the default list.

In fact, Valve reports that it uses two lists: one for the most commonly used curse words and one for racist and religious insults. These are English words. Filtering five swear words or variations thereof could keep 75 percent of unwanted swearing out of chats, the company said, with more than half already fuck or variants would exist. Valve further reports that the filter function will eventually come to all Steam users, but emphasizes that players who do not want this can turn it off.