Most major platforms have trust and safety teams that review reports of harmful content. Submitting a trust and safety report is often the first step many individuals take, but it has limitations: platforms can choose to ignore or deny reports at their discretion; there is no mandatory timeline; and platform policies may be narrower than federal law. For NCII, other forms of reporting create a mandatory obligation. A trust and safety report is useful as a complementary action, some platforms process other reports through their trust and safety teams, but should not be relied upon as the primary discovery mechanism.

Key facts about this term

  1. Trust and safety reports are voluntary platform processes Platform teams can exercise discretion in reviewing and deciding reports. Unlike other forms of reporting, there is no mandatory compliance timeline or obligation for inaction.
  2. Some platforms process reports through trust and safety Several major platforms route legal NCII reports through their trust and safety teams for processing. ScanErase identifies the correct intake mechanism for each platform.
  3. File both where possible Filing both a trust and safety report and another form of reporting, where the platform accepts both, maximizes the chances of effective documentation and discovery.

Frequently asked questions

Should I file a trust and safety report before filing another form of reporting?

You can do both simultaneously. The other form of reporting creates an obligation; the trust and safety report may accelerate internal processing. ScanErase assists with other forms of reporting and advises on supplemental platform reports.

What if a platform denies my trust and safety report?

A denied trust and safety report does not affect your rights under other forms of reporting. The platform's obligation to respond to a valid report is separate from its voluntary trust and safety process.

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