Today I’m glad to announce that we're joining the Ethical Web Data Collection Initiative (EWDCI), a consortium convened by the i2Coalition that brings web data companies together to define ethical guidelines and best practices for the industry.
Why We Joined
Web data collection is our whole business. Every day we think about the same four things: the websites being accessed, the customers doing the accessing, the proxies in between, and the data that comes out the other end. How those four interact responsibly is a question we've been developing the answer to for years with our policies and enforcement.
The EWDCI is a group of companies working through those same questions together, covering legality, ethics, ecosystem engagement, and social responsibility so it only makes sense we’re a part of it.
Demand for web data keeps growing, especially from AI use-cases, and the practices around collecting it are still being figured out. We'd rather be part of that conversation than watch it from outside.
Where This Fits
This continues a path we've been on for a while. We joined the Internet Watch Foundation to strengthen our network security and content filtering. We earned Made in Britain certification for our software development, and we’re increasing our overall compliance posture to ensure that we grow in the right direction.
What's Next
Membership is the first step and we're now working toward the EWDCI Trust Seal, which involves a formal review of our practices and a compliance audit run by the i2Coalition alongside EWDCI leadership. We will share more once that's complete.
