The State of Trust & Safety 2023 Report: A Defining Moment

Shifting online harms together with emerging regulatory requirements make the function of Trust & Safety teams more essential than ever. Our State of Trust & Safety 2023 report provides key findings from a wide range of threat verticals to help platforms better protect their services and their users.

The State of Trust & Safety 2023 Report: A Defining Moment

What Have We Learned?

In 2022, Trust & Safety was characterized by headlines, bottom lines and regulation. From the acquisition of Twitter to the use of platforms to incite riots in Brazil’s capital, to Russian disinformation about their invasion of Ukraine, online safety has dominated newsfeeds and has become an integral part of public discourse. 

Geopolitical factors shaping the rapidly evolving threat landscape makes one thing clear: this is a defining moment for Trust & Safety. In an effort to help platforms navigate what lies ahead, our State of Trust & Safety 2023 report provides key insights and top trends in online harm.

Where Are We Headed?

The implications of online harm are far-reaching for platforms and their users. During a time of continued economic uncertainty, an additional dimension of Trust & Safety rests on how online threats impact a business’s bottom line. Specifically, where pervasive fraud and harmful content exist, marketplaces falter. Or simply put: it’s good for business. 

At the same time, the international legal framework of internet regulations continues to shift as new national laws create strict and competing demands on compliance teams. The EU’s Digital Services Act, the UK’s Online Safety Bill, Ireland’s Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, Singapore’s Online Safety Bill, and an upcoming review of Section 230 of the US Communications Decency Act collectively indicate that transparency, accountability, and user protection are no longer voluntary for platforms.

What are Key Trends Shaping the Threat Landscape?

Shifting online harms together with emerging regulatory requirements make the function of Trust & Safety teams more essential than ever. Within this context, our State of Trust & Safety: 2023 report provides key findings from a wide range of threat verticals, including:

• Emerging misinformation campaigns
• Child predator networks
• Racial supremacist organizations building real-world organizations
• Human exploitation operations
• Terrorist organizations’ incitement to violence and fundraising

What Comes Next?

Understanding the complexities of the threat landscape is just the beginning. Effective prevention of online harm requires collaboration and partnership between tech companies, as well as regulators. This united approach is possible and, in fact, essential. Working together with a shared goal will propel forward the future of Trust & Safety.