James Smith

Behind today’s frameworks and playbooks lies a decade of trial, error, and unexpected lessons. In this lively panel, long-standing Trust & Safety leaders will share the fun, strange, and sometimes unnerving stories that shaped the field. From the early days of reactive moderation to today’s proactive risk models, the discussion will uncover what’s changed, what hasn’t, and what we must hold onto as we look ahead.

• War stories and lessons learned from the past 10 years of Trust & Safety
• How the discipline has evolved - and the pivotal moments that shaped it
• Applying yesterday’s lessons to today’s challenges and tomorrow’s risks
• Reflections on the human side of T&S - the highs, lows, and everything in between

Trust & Safety has become one of the most politicised functions in tech. Leaders are under pressure not only to protect users but also to navigate the crossfire of political narratives, public opinion, and global regulation. This panel will examine how senior T&S executives can uphold their mission in an era of intense scrutiny and geopolitical complexity.

• How the politicisation of T&S is reshaping the role of leaders and teams
• Rising above political crossfire to advocate for genuine online safety
• Managing reputational fallout and risk in an era of instant, global scrutiny
• Responding to real-world harms with conscience, care, and speed
• Trust & Safety through a geopolitical lens: conflicting pressures across the UK, EU, US and beyond