Content Moderation / Knowledge Center / Guide
Trust & Safety changelog
Stay on top of the latest changes affecting your Trust & Safety operations.
This changelog is crowdsourced, feel free to suggest missing items.
Adult contentChild SafetyExtremismHarassmentHateMisinformationPrivacySelf-HarmSubstancesViolence
August 2024 | ||
| TikTok is launching its Sub-Saharan Africa Safety Advisory Council to protect children from threats. Read more | WorldTikTok | ProductChild Safety |
July 2024 | ||
| US Senate is passing a bill to protect kids online and make tech companies accountable for harmful content. Read more | US | RegulatoryChild Safety |
| Meta's Oversight Board is asking the platform to refine its policies around AI-generated explicit images. Read more | WorldMeta | ProductAI |
June 2024 | ||
| Snapchat is rolling out new safety features aimed at protecting teens from unwanted contacts. Read more | WorldSnapchat | ProductChild Safety |
| The United Nations are launching global principles to combat online hate and lies. Read more | World | Regulatory |
| YouTube is releasing a new feature allowing users to remove AI content that mimics their face or voice. Read more | WorldYouTube | ProductAI |
| New York is passing a bill banning social media platforms from using "addictive" recommendation algorithms for child users. Read more | US | RegulatoryChild Safety |
| WeChat is requiring all creators on the platform to disclose whether a published post was generated using AI. Read more | WorldWeChat | ProductAI |
May 2024 | ||
| Twitch is disbanding its Safety Advisory Council and is replacing it with Twitch Ambassadors. Read more | WorldTwitch | Product |
| OpenAI is creating a safety and security committee led by senior executives. Read more | WorldOpenAI | Product |
| Nebraska is sueing TikTok fore exposing kids to harmful content. Read more | USTikTok | ProductChild Safety |
| TikTok is introducing "Content Credentials", a digital watermark to label AI-created images and videos. Read more or even more | WorldTikTok | ProductAI |
April 2024 | ||
| TikTok is updating its guidelines to restrict weight loss content. Read more | WorldTikTok | ProductSubstances |
| Tinder is adding a new safety feature to the app, so online daters can let friends and families know where they are. Read more | WorldTinder | Product |
| Meta is testing features that blur messages containing nudity to safeguard teens on Instagram. Read more | WorldMeta | ProductChild Safety |
| Meta is announcing an update to its AI labeling policy, expanding its definition of “manipulated media” to go beyond AI-generated videos. Read more or even more | WorldMeta | ProductAI |
March 2024 | ||
| TikTok is unveiling a global Youth Council,aiming at improving younger user safety. Read more | WorldTikTok | ProductChild Safety |
January 2024 | ||
| Florida is passing two bills that restricts minors from accessing certain social media platforms. Read more | US | RegulatoryChild Safety |
| Substack is implementing a new “report” button in its app, allowing readers to flag posts and publications directly. Read more or even more | WorldSubstack | Product |
| Meta is restricting teens from viewing content that deals with topics like suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders. Read more | WorldMeta | ProductChild SafetySelf-harm |
| Pornhub is restrincting access in North Carolina and Montana, fighting against government age verification laws. Read more | USPornhub | ProductAdult |
December 2023 | ||
| A federal judge has denied X’s attempt to temporarily halt a California content moderation law. Read more | US | Product |
| Meta is rolling out end-to-end encryption for calls and messages across Facebook and Messenger. Read more | WorldMeta | Product |
| Meta is planning to disable its cross-messaging feature between Facebook and Instagram to comply with the Digital Market Act. Read more or even more | WorldMeta | Product |
November 2023 | ||
| Meta is updating its political advertising policies to cover AI-generated imaged and videos. Read more | WorldMeta | ProductMisinformation |
| TikTok is taking action to remove videos promoting terrorism from the platform. Read more | WorldTikTok | ProductExtremismViolence |
| Meta's Oversight Board is reviewing the app's handling of a video showing an unveiled woman in Iran. Read more | WorldMeta | Product |
| Google is launching Notes, an experimental feature that allows users to share human insights on search results. Read more | WorldGoogle | Product |
| YouTube is announcing a series of policy changes aiming to inform viewers when content has been generated by AI. Read more | WorldYouTube | RegulatoryMisinformation |
| YouTube is launching new features to prevent harmful content exposure for teens. Read more | WorldYouTube | ProductChild Safety |
October 2023 | ||
| X is announcing that posts corrected by Community Notes will now become ineligible for revenue share. Read more | World | ProductMisinformation |
| Meta is declining its Oversight Board's advice from August 2023 to tighten oversight of drug-related posts. Read more | WorldMeta | ProductSubstances |
| Discord is unveiling a system called “Teen Safety Assist” that will warn minors when they get a suspicious message. Read more or even more | WorldDiscord | ProductChild Safety |
| Meta and TikTok are announcing they took action to counter misinformation following the attack by Hamas on Israel. Read more or even more | WorldTikTok | ProductMisinformation |
| Snapchat is facing accusations over its failure to assess privacy risks of its generative AI chatbot "My AI". Read more | WorldSnapchat | ProductPrivacy |
| Louisiana is rejecting a porn-industry group’s challenge to a law requiring age verification to enter pornographic websites. Read more | US | RegulatoryChild Safety |
| Meta's Oversight Board is planning to open a case involving political deepfakes. Read more or even more | WorldMeta | ProductMisinformation |
September 2023 | ||
| X is disabling a tool allowing users to report electoral fake news. Read more | World | ProductMisinformation |
| The Mental Health Coalition is launching the Safe Online Standards for Kids' Mental Health (S.O.S) initiative to create a rating system across platforms. Read more | World | ProductChild Safety |
| Meta's Oversight Board is urging the platform to improve the distinction between hate speech and criticism of hate speech. Read more | WorldMeta | ProductHate |
| X is suing California alleging its new content moderation law violates First Amendment rights. Read more | US | Product |
| Snapchat is announcing new safety features such as In-app Warnings to protect teens from potential online risks. Read more | WorldSnapchat | ProductChild Safety |
August 2023 | ||
| ADL is urging Meta’s Oversight Board to take action to improve addressing Holocaust denial and distortion. Read more | WorldMeta | ProductHateMisinformation |
| Meta's Oversight Board is announcing Holocaust Denial as a new case for consideration, inviting people and organizations to submit public comments. Read more | WorldMeta | ProductHateMisinformation |
| Meta is revising its Adult Sexual Exploitation policy, permitting sharing of content involving non-consensual sexual touching if posted with the aim of raising awareness. Read more | WorldMeta | ProductAdult |
| Snap is announcing that its users will soon be able to opt out of content personalization. Read more | WorldSnapchat | Product |
| Instagram's users users will now be able to access features without seeing content that's been ranked by Meta's recommendation algorithms. Read more | WorldMeta | Product |
| X is announcing it will remove a protective feature letting users block other accounts, except for direct messages. Read more | World | Product |
| Google is launching its new Transparency Center on which users can learn more about policies, reporting inappropriate content or appealing a ban. Read more | WorldGoogle | Product |
| YouTube is updating its policies to tackle medical misinformation and remove harmful cancer claims. Read more | WorldYouTube | ProductMisinformation |
| Meta's Oversight Board is urging the company to have stricter rules bannning gender-based violence. Read more | WorldMeta | ProductHate |
July 2023 | ||
| Seven big tech companies are agreeing to commit to new standards in security, trust and safety. Read more | World | Product |
| Xbox is adding a reactive voice chat moderation, allowing players to capture and submit 60-second audio clips of inappropriate voice chat messages. Read more | WorldMicrosoft | Product |
| Discord is expanding its policies to address generative artificial intelligence that can create fake content and the sexualization of children. Read more | WorldDiscord | ProductChild Safety |
June 2023 | ||
| TikTok is launching a new feature enabling parents to filter out videos they don't want their children to see. Read more | WorldTikTok | ProductChild Safety |
| TikTok is developing a youth council to build safety tools that are more effective for teenagers. Read more | WorldTikTok | ProductChild Safety |
| Meta is rolling back its measures to curb the spread of Covid misinformation. Read more | WorldMeta | ProductMisinformation |
| Meta is implementing new updates requiring advertisers to designate the beneficiary and the payer for their ads. Read more | WorldMeta | Product |
| The US senate is reintroducing the Platform Accountability and Transparency Act (PATA), a bill that would hold AI companies liable for harmful content. Read more or even more | US | Regulatory |
| Texas is signing a bill banning kids under 18 joining social media sites without parental consent. Read more | US | RegulatoryChild Safety |
| The Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE) is releasing a database compiling more than 300 hate and far-right extremist symbols. Read more or even more | World | ProductExtremismHate |
| Apple is annoucing that a new feature will soon warn users when receiving unsolicited nudes. Read more | WorldApple | ProductAdult |
| YouTube is announcing it will no longer remove videos with false claims of fraud in the 2020 presidential election. Read more | WorldYouTube | ProductMisinformation |
May 2023 | ||
| Twitter is launching Community Notes for images in posts to address misleading images and emphasize crowdsourced moderation. Read more | WorldTwitter | ProductMisinformation |
| The US are taking new steps to protect the privacy, safety and mental health of children online. Read more | US | RegulatoryChild SafetyPrivacy |
| Mozilla is launching a new Mastodon server to test content moderation that is different to other social media platforms, with no focus on free speech or ‘neutrality’. Read more | WorldMozilla | Product |
| The US are introducing a new legislation that would make sharing non-consensual AI-generated pornography illegal. Read more | US | RegulatoryAdult |
| US senators are reintroducing the Kids Online Safety Act to help protect kids from harmful online content. Read more | US | RegulatoryChild Safety |
April 2023 | ||
| The US are proposing a bill that would set a national age limit, banning kids under 13 from using social media. Read more | US | RegulatoryChild Safety |
| Texas is giving initial approval to a bill requiring platforms to protect minors from harmful content and give parents more control. Read more | US | RegulatoryChild SafetyPrivacy |
| Florida is advancing a bill requiring companies to be more transparent and to get permission to collect and sell personal data. Read more | US | RegulatoryPrivacy |
| TikTok is changing its misinformation policy to ban all climate change denial content on its platform. Read more | WorldTikTok | ProductMisinformation |
| Meta's Oversight Board is asking the social media company to keep its covid misinformation policy and to be more transparent when removing content. Read more | WorldMeta | ProductMisinformation |
| YouTube is updating its guidelines for eating disorder-related content, banning content including extreme calorie counting or purging after eating. Read more | WorldYouTube | ProductSelf-harm |
| Montana is giving final approval to a bill that will come into effect in January, making it illegal for app stores to offer TikTok. Read more | USTikTok | Regulatory |
| Twitter is removing a policy prohibiting the targeted deadnaming or misgendering of transgender people from its moderation guidelines. Read more | WorldTwitter | ProductHate |
| Twitter is planning to add visible labels on tweets that have been identified as potentially violating its policies. Read more | WorldTwitter | Product |
| Arkansas is signing a bill imposing a minimum age limit for social media usage. Read more | US | RegulatoryChild Safety |
| China and the US are both requesting for public comment on accountability measures for advanced AI systems such as ChatGPT. Read more | ChinaUS | Regulatory |
| Snapchat is launching new tools to improve its AI chatbot, including an age filter ensuring it responds according to the user's age. Read more | WorldSnapchat | ProductChild Safety |
| Facebook is planning to roll out new policies making users able to have greater control over "demoted" and fact-checked content. Read more | WorldMeta | Product |
March 2023 | ||
| Twitter is opening some source code to public inspection, including the algorithm used to recommend tweets to users. Read more | WorldTwitter | Product |
| Meta is rolling out a new system to separate ads from harmful or controversial content. Read more | WorldMeta | Product |
| Teleperformance is resuming its full-service content moderation services, including moderation of highly egregious content. Read more | WorldTeleperformance | Product |
| Yubo and the AFNOR Group are forming a working group to create a new safety standard on the prevention of risks and protection of minors on social networks. Read more or even more | WorldAFNORYubo | ProductChild Safety |
| TikTok is unveiling its updated community guidelines that will focus on improving content moderation on the platform and take effect on April 21st. Read more | WorldTikTok | ProductChild SafetyMisinformation |
| Snapchat is publishing guidelines in its Family Center, detailing how content gets algorithmically recommended to minors. Read more | WorldSnapchat | ProductChild Safety |
| The House of Representatives is passing a bill to protect online speech from federal officials. Read more | US | RegulatoryPrivacy |
| Meta is introducing a new way for users to authenticate their account with a missed call. Read more | WorldMeta | ProductPrivacy |
| Texas is proposing a bill requiring platforms to protect minors from harmful content and to get parental consent before data collection. Read more | US | RegulatoryChild SafetyPrivacy |
| Meta's oversight board is reviewing the moderation of the Arabic word "shaheed", meaning "martyr" in English, the word associated with most content removals. Read more | WorldMeta | ProductExtremism |
| Wisconsin is joining other states requesting court order for TikTok to comply with investigation into its communication practices. Read more | USTikTok | ProductChild SafetyPrivacy |
| Whatsapp is agreeing to be more transparent on changes to its terms of service according to the European Commission. Read more or even more | WorldMeta | Product |
| Facebook is revamping its "cross-check" moderation system after facing criticism for applying different review processes for VIP vs regular users. Read more | WorldMeta | Product |
| Twitter is now prohibiting "wishes of harm" in its new violent speech policy, banning users expressing desire for harm. Read more | WorldTwitter | ProductHateViolence |
| TikTok is setting a new default 60-minute daily screen time limit for minors. Read more | WorldTikTok | ProductChild Safety |
February 2023 | ||
| Meta is reforming its penalty system "Facebook Jail", saying users will now be receiving a warning first for most violations. Read more | WorldMeta | Product |
| Tennessee is examining a bill asking phone manufacturers to track and block harmful content from minors. Read more | US | RegulatoryAdultChild SafetyViolence |
| Meta's oversight board is announcing it will now review more types of content moderation cases and publish some decisions on an expedited basis. Read more | WorldMeta | Product |
| Meta is rolling out a new version of its ad-matching tool, providing more information about how users activities are feeding ML models. Read more | WorldMeta | ProductPrivacy |
| Arkansas is proposing a new bill requiring ID to access pornographic websites. Read more | US | RegulatoryAdultChild Safety |
| California is attempting for the second time to hold social media liable for addicting child users to their product. Read more | US | RegulatoryChild Safety |
| Meta is launching new comment moderation tools allowing creators on Facebook to view moderation statistics and manage conversations. Read more | WorldMeta | Product |
| Google is introducing a blur feature helping users avoiding explicit images while using the search engine. Read more | WorldGoogle | ProductAdultViolence |
| California is examining a bill targeting fentanyl and firearms sale and harm promotion to children on social media. Read more | US | RegulatoryChild SafetySubstancesViolence |
| TikTok is opening transparency and accountability centers to visitors. Read more | WorldTikTok | Product |
| TikTok is rolling out a revamped account enforcement system, including a new strike system and features dealing with recommendations. Read more | WorldTikTok | Product |
January 2023 | ||
| The Supreme Court is taking up Section 230 for two cases to be heard in February, involving social media's relationship to terrorist activity. Read more | US | RegulatoryExtremism |
| Twitter is planning to limit permanent suspensions of accounts breaking its rules, adding that any user will be able to appeal an account suspension. Read more | WorldTwitter | Product |
| Meta's oversight board is announcing the removal of the Ukrainian far-right military group Azov Regiment from its list of dangerous individuals and organizations. Read more | WorldMeta | ProductExtremism |
| CNIL is warning that some age verification methods requiring face scans to access pornographic websites could be used for blackmail. Read more | US | RegulatoryAdultChild Safety |
| The Supreme Court is asking The Biden administration to weigh in on two content moderation cases. Read more or even more | US | Regulatory |
| Meta's oversight board is sharing their decision to redefine Facebook and Instagram's community rules regarding nudity in a less discriminatory way. Read more or even more | WorldMeta | ProductAdult |
| Louisiana is passing a new law requiring residents to provide proof of their age with an official ID to access pornographic websites. Read more | US | RegulatoryAdultChild Safety |
| The United Nation’s 2022 Internet Governance Forum (IGF) is discussing internet fragmentation among democracies vs. driven by authoritarian states. Read more | World | Regulatory |
| TikTok is announcing creators are now able to restrict their videos to adult viewers. Read more | WorldTikTok | ProductChild Safety |
| Google is developing a free moderation tool for terrorist material identification and removal for smaller platforms. Read more | WorldGoogle | ProductExtremism |
December 2022 | ||
| Meta is launching HMA, a new free tool helping platforms identify and remove violating content. Read more or even more | WorldMeta | ProductExtremism |
| Apple is cancelling its plan to scan photos stored in iCloud to detect CSAM. Read more | WorldApple | ProductChild Safety |
| Meta's oversight board is suggesting that Meta's cross check programme is more commercially driven than commited to human rights. Read more | WorldMeta | Product |
| TikTok and Bumble are joining Meta to stop revenge porn by blocking images from StopNCII.org's bank of hashes. Read more or even more | WorldTikTokBumbleMeta | ProductAdult |
November 2022 | ||
| Naver Z is introducing its Safety Advisory Council providing expertise on their policy and features. Read more or even more | WorldNaver | Product |
| Twitter is announcing its Covid misinformation policy is no longer enforced. Read more or even more | WorldTwitter | ProductMisinformation |
| Teleperformance is announcing it will no longer accept any new highly egregious content moderation work. Read more | WorldTeleperformance | Product |
October 2022 | ||
| TikTok is introducing new and updated features and policies for its LIVE community. Read more | WorldTikTok | ProductChild Safety |
| Twitter is reviewing its policies around permanently banning users. Read more | WorldTwitter | Product |
| Spotify is acquiring Kinzen, a firm specialized in identifying harmul audio content. Read more | WorldSpotify | ProductHateMisinformation |
September 2022 | ||
| Tumblr is creating community labels allowing users to avoid seeing unwanted content. Read more | WorldTumblr | ProductAdultSubstancesViolence |
| Twitter is opening the Twitter Moderation Research Consortium (TMRC) to researchers. Read more | WorldTwitter | Product |
| Instagram is developing a feature protecting users from receiving unsolicited nude photos. Read more | WorldMeta | ProductAdult |
| Facebook is experimenting with asking 250 users to help moderate climate speech. Read more | WorldMeta | ProductMisinformation |
| YouTube is announcing updated content moderation policies to prohibit violent extremist content. Read more | WorldYouTube | ProductExtremism |
| California is requiring platforms to report how they moderate hate speech, extremism, harassment and other objectionable behaviors. Read more | US | RegulatoryExtremismHarassmentHate |
| Twitter is expanding its fact-checking feature Birdwatch, allowing users to add additional context to tweets. Read more | WorldTwitter | ProductMisinformation |
August 2022 | ||
| OpenAI is introducing a content moderation endpoint assessing whether the content is sexual, hateful or promoting self-harm. Read more | WorldOpenAI | ProductAdultHateSelf-harm |
| TikTok is said to be training its moderators to detect CSAM using graphic images and videos as a reference guide. Read more | WorldTikTok | ProductChild Safety |
See missing items? You can add them here.
Read more
Towards a fine-grained and contextual approach to Nudity Moderation
Blanket bans on nudity and specifically on bare breasts are coming under increased scrutiny. We hear they clash with cultural expectations and impede right to expression for women, trans and nonbinary people.
Joining the Online Dating & Discovery Association: Towards Safer Connections
This is a step to further enhance end-user safety in the online dating realm.