Safety By Design: MasterClass from Spectrum Labs

On Thursday, June 22, Spectrum Labs hosted a master class centered around implementing a safety-by-design framework for content moderation, regulatory compliance, and product expansion, aiming to minimize risks, safeguard users, and enhance product integrity.?

The class was moderated by Matt Soeth (Head of Trust & Safety, Spectrum Labs), and included guest speakers Sharon Fisher (Head of Trust & Safety, Keyword Studios), Sameer Hinduja (Researcher, CyberBulling Research Center), Logan Newkirk (Head of Trust & Safety, YikYak), and Mike Sullivan (Senior Engineer, Spectrum Labs).

Sameer Hinduja helped kick things off by explaining that safety-by-design involves adding safety principles and risk mitigation in the development of online platforms, games, and interactive experiences. He drew a parallel to the gradual introduction of automobile seat belts and suggested adopting a similar approach for online platforms and social media. Logan Newkirk emphasized the importance of involving trust and safety teams in product conversations and roadmaps from the beginning to ensure that appropriate safeguards are incorporated into the development process.

Sharon Fischer discussed the role of trust & safety professionals in guiding people to consider safety by design, "The industry is changing now because now the industry knows that they have to think about these things or at least consult. So we can get there early, they might not talk to us in the next six months, but at least we have brought this to their attention." She shared an example of a client who was enthusiastic about adding a new feature but hadn’t considered how it could be misused. The participants also touched on the safety implications of incorporating generative AI (GenAI) into online spaces and stressed the need to determine the origins and outputs of generative AI to prevent misuse and ensure user safety.

The speakers also emphasized the need for trust and safety professionals to translate the value of trust and safety in a way that resonates with company stakeholders, "I can preach to the choir, but if they are really into heavy metal music, they'll turn around and say, this isn't what I need. So, we need to talk about the ROI of trust and safety," said Sharon Fischer. The speakers highlighted some of the measurable benefits around trust and safety, including increased user engagement, community growth, and a positive platform reputation, and emphasized the importance of aligning trust and safety with the company's mission and vision. "Please stop putting all of your energy into reactive content moderation. Reports are like a rash, you have to go and look at the root cause of them,” said Sharon Fischer.

Overall, the class highlighted the importance of aligning trust and safety with your company goals to ensure that trust and safety can be embedded into the design process as early as possible. As the industry continues to evolve, more companies must prioritize trust and safety to proactively address risks, minimize harm, and create a safer online environment for everyone.