Early Warning | Policy & Regulations | Good News | Jobs & Careers | T&S FAQs
Subscribe to the newsletter here
T&S Early Warning News
Get ahead of new stories that are impacting the T&S industry.
Brazil Lifts Its Ban on Telegram After Two Days
NYTimes | Mar 20, 2022
Company Listed: Telegram, Social Media
RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil’s Congress, Supreme Court, election officials and federal police have been trying to get a response from Telegram, the fast-growing messaging app, for months. It turned out, all they had to do was ban it.
On Friday, Brazil’s Supreme Court blocked Telegram in the country because the company behind the app had been ignoring the court’s orders.
Then, suddenly, Telegram’s chief executive responded — with a pedestrian excuse: his company had missed the court’s emails. “I apologize to the Brazilian Supreme Court for our negligence,” said the executive, Pavel Durov.
Australia to make Big Tech hand over misinformation data
Reuters | Mar 21, 2022
Company Listed: Social Media
Australia’s media regulator will be able to force internet companies to provide internal data about how they have handled misinformation and disinformation, the latest measure by the country’s government to crack down on Big Tech.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will also be able to enforce an internet industry code on uncooperative platforms, the federal government said on Monday, joining governments around the world seeking to reduce the spread of harmful falsehoods online.
The planned laws are a response to an ACMA report that found four-fifths of Australian adults had experienced misinformation about COVID-19 and 76% thought online platforms should do more to cut the amount of false and misleading content shared online.
Harassment and abuse in three dimensions, the dark side of the Metaverse
SBS | Mar 20, 2022
Company Listed: Social Media
In 1993, freelance journalist Julian Dibbell penned an essay that would set the stage for conversations about the limits of free speech, consent and abuse in digital communities.
The piece, “A Rape in Cyberspace,” chronicled the aftermath of a "cyber rape" by a player in a text-based game called LambdaMOO.
The player, 'Mr Bungle', had taken control of other players’ avatars and programmed them to graphically describe sexual acts.
In a chat room and virtual world populated by early adopters of the internet, avatars congregated to discuss the emotional trauma it had caused them and what the consequence should be for Mr Bungle’s actions.
Social media giants allow hate speech against Russia but silence Israel's critics
Middle East Eye | Mar 18, 2022
Company Listed: Social Media
Silicon Valley has rammed through a series of changes over the past few days at dizzying speed, making explicit what should already have been obvious: Social media firms have rapidly become little more than propaganda arms of the United States and its allies.
That role has been increasingly difficult to conceal as western politicians and traditional media outlets have whipped up anti-Russia hysteria over the past three weeks, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The most blatant change was a sharp about-turn by Facebook in its policy on hate speech and incitement. Leaked emails to content moderators seen last week by Reuters indicated that Meta, the rebranded company behind Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, would allow threats of violence against Russians and death threats directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin on its platforms.
Doctors fighting racial health disparities face threats, harassment
NBC News | Mar 20, 2022
Company Listed: Social Media
Dr. Aletha Maybank joined the American Medical Association as its first chief health equity officer in 2019, determined to fight racial disparities in medicine.
That work grew more urgent in 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic exposed deadly inequities in health care, and as George Floyd’s murder turned the country’s attention to the pervasiveness of systemic racism. The AMA issued a statement decrying racism as an urgent threat to public health, and Maybank focused on the organization’s efforts to “dismantle racist and discriminatory policies and practices across all of health care.” That included supporting training for medical workers on implicit bias, as well as advocating for solutions to problems that had not traditionally been a focus for the organization, such as housing inequities and police violence.
But by the fall of 2021, these equity initiatives were facing growing pushback from pundits, think-tank researchers and doctors — both liberal and conservative — who contended that the medical organization had overstepped its mission of supporting health care professionals and was now embracing a “woke” ideology. And out of public view, that backlash was turning vicious — particularly for Maybank.
T&S Policies & Regulations
Regulatory news and policy decisions impacting the T&S ecosystem.
Compare and review T&S Policies for dozens of companies here
Let’s enforce age-gate rules to secure children on the internet
Live mint | Mar 21, 2022
Company Listed: Social Media
Peter Steiner’s famous cartoon in the New Yorker about online anonymity—that on the internet, nobody knows you’re a dog—becomes devastating in the context of digital inscrutability for kids. When nobody knows who is under 13, tweens can compare themselves with thinfluencers on Instagram, 5-year-olds can broadcast to hundreds of adults on streaming platforms, and children can wander into a strip club in the metaverse, according to a grim BBC News investigation published recently. Most popular social media firms including ByteDance Ltd’s TikTok and Meta Platforms Inc’s Instagram have an age minimum of 13, but none of them does much to keep kids off its systems beyond asking for a date of birth.
That’s why it is encouraging to see an array of new children’s codes proposed by legislators across Europe, Australia and also in the US, aimed at making the internet safer for kids. If they work, online apps will be forced to offer alternative versions for children.
Facebook Parent Sued Over Scam Ads by Australian Regulator
The Wall Street Journal | Mar 18, 2022
Company Listed: Facebook
An Australian regulator is suing Meta Platforms Inc., accusing it of not doing enough to remove scam ads from Facebook that featured public figures promoting cryptocurrency, deepening the social media giant’s legal troubles over the issue.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission alleged in federal court that the scam ads were still being displayed on Facebook even after public figures around the world complained that their names and images were being used without consent. One of them, Andrew Forrest, the chairman and largest shareholder of major iron ore producer Fortescue Metals Group Ltd., has filed litigation against Meta in Australian and American courts over similar fake ads.
Meta said it has cooperated with the regulator’s investigation so far and intends to defend itself in court. The company says it uses technology to detect and block scam ads and tries to get ahead of scammers’ attempts to evade its detection systems.
Tech leaders could face jail time and big fines under UK's Online Safety Bill
Euro news | Mar 18, 2022
Company Listed: Google, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok
Tech bosses would face criminal prosecution if they fail to comply with proposed UK rules aimed at ensuring people are safe online.
The UK government on Thursday unveiled in Parliament its ambitious but controversial Online Safety Bill - draft legislation that would give regulators wide-ranging powers to crack down on digital and social media companies like Google, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok.
Authorities in the United Kingdom are the vanguard of a global movement to rein in the power of tech platforms and make them more responsible for harmful material such as child sex abuse, racist content, bullying, fraud and other harmful material that proliferates on their platforms.
Similar efforts are underway in the European Union and the United States.
Social media platforms could face content crackdown under proposed new laws
SBS | Mar 21, 2022
Company Listed: Social Media
Australia's media watchdog may soon be able to use new powers to hold tech giants to account for misinformation or harmful online content.
The federal government has pledged to introduce new laws to parliament later this year that could provide the Australian Communications and Media Authority with new regulatory powers to counter disinformation and misinformation.
Under the proposed legislation, the authority would be able to enforce industry codes and hold tech companies to account to remove harmful or misleading information online should voluntary efforts prove to be inadequate.
It would also be able to use new information-gathering powers to increase transparency online, as well as improve access to Australian data on how measures to address misinformation are working.
Chinese Regulators Crack Down on Social Media, Livestreaming ‘Chaos’
Radiichina | Mar 21, 2022
Company Listed: Social Media
The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) is purging the Chinese internet of ‘chaotic phenomena’ and keeping tabs on perceived wrongdoings on livestreams, short-video platforms, social media, and the internet at large.
The country’s top internet regulator announced the above during a press conference held last Thursday, March 17. The cyberspace authority also released a list of the top 10 priorities for its 2022 ‘Clear and Bright’ Campaign, which authorities first introduced in 2020.
According to the CAC, this year’s campaign aims to ramp up regulations targeting the livestreaming industry. Not only are plans being put in place to prevent minors from being used as kid influencers, but disgraced celebrities are also barred from appearing on livestreaming platforms.
Additionally, the campaign strives to ‘clean up’ Chinese cyberspace for minors during the summer holidays. One means to protect minors’ health and to ensure a safe space for online studies is for online platforms to implement parental controls or kid-friendly modes.
T&S Good News
Some of the good news in the T&S industry that leaders want to know
Unlicensed Instagram and TikTok influencers offering financial advice could face jail time, Asic warns
Theguardian | Mar 21, 2022
Company Listed: TikTok, Instagram
The corporate watchdog has warned Instagram and other social media influencers that they need a licence to give financial advice and face up to five years in jail if they break the law.
In a new information sheet aimed at so-called “finfluencers”, issued on Monday, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (Asic) took aim at social media stock-tippers who promise big returns or promise the investments they recommend are as good as putting money in the bank.
The regulator also warned influencers who earn money through affiliate links that send readers to online brokers that they may be providing a financial service, which also requires a licence.
Financial influencers wield significant power among younger people looking to invest, with an Asic survey last year finding a third of Australians between 18 and 21 followed one on social media and that a further 64% reported changing their behaviour due to finfluencer posts.
T&S Careers & Jobs
T&S jobs posted recently, often within the last 24 hours, looking for top talent.
Check out all the recent T&S job postings here.
Product Manager, Trust and Safety
DoorDash | San Francisco, CA, USA
Posted: Mar 21, 2022
Translate customer and internal-user needs into clear, well-defined functional and technical requirements backed by data analysis and deep understanding of our users
3+ years of product management experience in the tech industry
3 or more years of experience across Identity/Trust&Safety/Fraud payment, e-commerce, retail, digital media, or financial services industries
Experience defining strategic vision and tactical execution in a given product area
Experience in iterative, agile software delivery, short release cycles
Focus and thoughtfulness on data and analytics to solve problems and experience achieving results through continuous improvement
Experience in effectively working with multiple teams for collaboration and company-wide project delivery
Tenacity to keep issues top of mind of relevant stakeholders and conviction to stand-by decisions
Director of Product, Trust & Safety
Discord | San Francisco, CA, USA
Posted: Mar 21, 2022
Ability to thrive in ambiguous environments, excited about finding solutions to complex problems, and then executing on them
10+ years of experience building and shipping great software, including responsibilities driving prioritization, trade-offs, and timelines
6+ years of experience hiring, managing, and developing both individual contributors and senior product leaders
6+ years of experience focused on platforms (consumer, communications, or social)
Proven track record of achieving impact through empowering customers with innovative solutions.
Proven ability to analyze and synthesize data in order to set strategic goals
Experience presenting to senior executive audiences
Demonstrated technical proficiency and effectiveness working closely with engineers and managers
Strong product sense and pride in understanding your customers
Knowledge Manager - Trust & Safety
TikTok | Mountain View, CA, USA
Posted: Mar 21, 2022
Bachelor's degree with equivalent 5+ years of practical experience
You have excellent writing, interpersonal, and oral communication skills with a proven ability to write, edit, and organize thoughts in a clear concise, and well-organized manner
You have experience with process design and efficient information architecture
Experience with Knowledge Base Management, databases, wikis, etc
Proven project management, and prioritization skills
You have strong problem solving and analytical skills with a solutions-oriented approach
You have the ability to adapt to business needs and work in a fast-paced environment
You have the ability to see things from a strategic perspective, and formulate project plans that tie back to organizational and team objectives
You have the ability to work both independently and within a team-oriented environment
Senior Risk Data Analyst, Trust and Safety
Google Inc. | New York, NY, USA
Posted: Mar 20, 2022
Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
3 years of experience in data analysis, working with databases, and querying (e.g., SQL, MySQL, MapReduce, Hadoop).
Experience relaying communications between technical and non-technical teams.
Experience in one of the following: C/C++, Python, Java, HTML, JavaScript, CSS, R, Stata, SPSS, or SAS.
Experience in Internet-based risk, abuse, fraud, data protection, or security.
Ability to effectively communicate and work cross-functionally.
Excellent problem-solving, critical thinking, and analytical skills.
Trust & Safety Core Operations Quality Program Manager
Pinterest | San Francisco, CA, USA
Posted | Mar 21, 2022
Strong project management skills: written and verbal communication, problem solving, diplomacy and organization
Self-starter; comfortable navigating ambiguity and changing course when necessary
Comfortable viewing and discussing controversial, graphic, or sensitive content
Engaging communicator one-on-one or in small groups
Appreciation for and understanding of the unique challenges of content policy enforcement and impact on those doing the work
T&S FAQs
What is T&S?
Great question (and one the industry hasn’t fully agreed upon). Think of Trust & Safety as the organization that protects social media and Big Tech companies and users from online abuse. As long as users are able to generate content online, time has told us that a minority of these users will create content that is offensive, scandalous, fraudulent, disingenuous, misinformative, hateful, spiteful, and harmful. T&S fights this with flexible policies, resilient operations, and informed detections.
Is T&S interesting?
That depends. If you enjoy stopping bad actors and keeping good people safe, then you’ll love T&S. It requires understanding new technologies and staying on top of breaking issues across society and the world. It also pays Big Tech salaries (no coding skills required).
How do you get into T&S?
That’s the tricky part. The short answer is: not easily. Most T&S orgs are part of Big Tech and (as a result) pay extremely well, so jobs are highly competitive. If you don’t know someone in the industry who can help refer you in, then you can learn more about T&S policies, current events, issues, regulations, and jobs at trustsafetyinstitute.com to improve your hiring chances and start doing meaningful work that helps people.