WHAT TO FIX

@caadcoalition.bsky.social

What does the DSA mean for platform monetization? Join our Policy Manager Belén Luna Sanz and @disinfo.eu on 29 October to discuss our complaint against Meta and the gaps in monetisation enforcement and reporting. www.disinfo.eu/29-october-f...

WHAT TO FIX reposted

CAAD_Coalition

Meta’s monetisation rules mean little without enforcement. Join @whattofix.tech and @disinfo.eu on 29 October, to unpack its DSA complaint alleging failures in Meta’s enforcement and abuse-reporting systems. www.disinfo.eu/29-october-f...

disinfo.euFlops and VLOPs: Monetisation, Meta and the Digital Services ActWebinar on WHAT TO FIX filed a complaint under the DSA accusing the Meta of failing to enforce its own monetization rules and failing to provide effective ways to report potentially illegal monetizati...

WHAT TO FIX reposted

Truthout

@truthout.org

In 2024, Meta unveiled a new invite-only program called Facebook Content Monetization, designed to streamline earnings for creators. Many creators that were invited promoted white supremacist and neo-Nazi ideologies, and 29 accounts had histories of anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric.

buff.lyMeta Has Paid Far Right Accounts for Their Posts Ahead of the MidtermsAn invite-only program for content creators has accounts promoting white supremacy, anti-LGBTQ, and neo-Nazi rhetoric.

🚨 NEW REPORT Meta says it restricts child monetization. Why did we find thousands of child-related accounts seemingly accessing monetization products across #Facebook and #Instagram? Read the full report: www.whattofix.tech/publications...

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Meta says child safety is one of its top priorities. Why is it approving accounts seemingly impersonating or otherwise posting child content without parent consent or authorization for monetization?

whattofix.techChild Monetization: How weaknesses in Meta’s monetization systems and governance may expose children to harmWHAT TO FIX’s research reveals widespread inconsistencies in Meta’s enforcement of its monetization rules restricting the use of monetization products by individuals under 18 and accounts primarily po...

Read more on how weaknesses in Meta's monetization systems and governance may expose children to harm. The report looks at platform-facilitated monetization features such as Subscription and Gifts / Stars, but also at Meta's own content monetization programs. www.whattofix.tech/publications...

Meta says under 13 don't use Facebook and Instagram. Why is it helping accounts targeting them generate revenue?

Meta says Teen Accounts are private by default. Why does it offer a Teen 'Creator' Account version, that's public and gets access to professional features?

COMPLAINT AGAINST META: WHAT WE ARE REQUESTING We filed a #DSA complaint against #Meta with the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets asking them to investigate Meta's monetization rules, their enforcement, and user reporting systems.

Meta paid $3 billion to content creators in 2025. Do they... ❓ have an adequate understanding of the risks and risk mitigations? ❓ diligently enforce their monetization terms? ❓ provide reporting mechanisms enabling user to escalate violations? ❓ offer enough transparency to allow oversight?

TikTok pre-emptively notified Sanctions Authorities that it may have violated sanctions, following our April 2026 report.

whattofix.techSanctioned entities monetizing on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and XResearch by WHAT TO FIX documents EU-sanctioned entities accessing monetization services across Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and X — raising EU sanctions compliance and DSA systemic risk concerns. Most m...

We notified TikTok of the use of their Subscription tool by an account affiliated with a sanctioned actor. Not only is there a risk that TikTok may have issued payments in violation of #Sanctions, but it may also have facilitated #MoneyLaundering. www.whattofix.tech/publications...

WHAT TO FIX reposted

Victoire Rio

@riovictoire.bsky.social

22 Sept

In a fascinating move, X is suing content creators for taking advantage of its monetization program and * defrauding * the company of $277,000. It may just be me, but the kind of activity described in this case was entirely predictable. Shouldn't it be X's responsibility to mitigate such risks?

📣 BIG NEWS: We have filed a #DSA complaint against #Meta with the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) for potential non-compliance with Articles 12, 14, 16 and 20 of the DSA.

We found that #Meta failed to: ❌ diligently enforce its monetization terms (Art. 14) ❌ adequately handle notices of suspected illegal activity (Art. 16) ❌ provide adequate means to challenge decisions (Art. 20) ❌ provide electronic contact points to escalate legal compliance matters (Art. 12)

whattofix.techDSA complaint: Meta’s monetization enforcement failuresWHAT TO FIX calls for Meta to be investigated for potential breaches of Articles 12, 14, 16 and 20 of the Digital Services Act.

Review the evidence and read the full complaint 👇 www.whattofix.tech/publications...

📣 BIG NEWS: We have filed a #DSA complaint against #Meta with the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) for potential non-compliance with Articles 12, 14, 16 and 20 of the DSA.

Facebook paid $ 3 billion dollars to creators through its creator monetization programs in 2025. Our concern: #Meta may be facilitating payments worth billions while lacking reliable systems to enforce its #monetization rules and process user reports of potentially illegal monetization

whattofix.techOne year on: Meta Still Allows Accounts Affiliated with EU-Sanctioned Entities to MonetizeFor over a year, WHAT TO FIX notified Meta that accounts seemingly affiliated with EU-sanctioned actors appeared to have access to monetization services. One year on, 4 of the 11 accounts reported sti...

Our DSA complaint draws on our repeated attempt over more than a year to alert Meta to accounts seemingly affiliated with EU-sanctioned actors that displayed signs of access to its monetization products in possible violation of EU sanctions law. www.whattofix.tech/publications...

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CAAD_Coalition

@caadcoalition.bsky.social

14 Aug

@cbcradiocanada.bsky.social spoke to @michaelkhoo.bsky.social @sonjasolomun.bsky.social and @riovictoire.bsky.social on wildfire disinformation, conspiracy theories, AI slop and how repeat disinformers profit by spreading lies. www.cbc.ca/player/play/...

cbc.caHow AI and conspiracy theories fuel wildfire misinformationAs Canada battles multiple raging wildfires, misinformation and disinformation about their causes are also spreading quickly online. For The National, CBC's Ashley Fraser breaks down how AI and conspi...

WHAT TO FIX reposted

Rafiq

@rafiqcopeland.bsky.social

10 Aug

Australia’s Royal Commission on Antisemitism is ongoing, and it needs to call Meta back to explain why they are actively bankrolling neo-Nazi hate speech. Vital work Lucy Carter and ABC News Verify, with help from @whattofix.tech and @riovictoire.bsky.social.

ABC News Australia@news.abc.net.au

Facebook is paying controversial creators to produce rage-bait content

abc.net.auFacebook isn't just giving these agitators a platform: it's paying themAn ABC NEWS Verify investigation reveals Facebook is directly funding some controversial Australian content creators including a white nationalist and an anti-vaxxer influencer.

WHAT TO FIX reposted

ABC News Australia

@news.abc.net.au

Facebook is paying controversial creators to produce rage-bait content

abc.net.auFacebook pays controversial creators to produce rage-bait contentAn ABC NEWS Verify investigation reveals Facebook is directly funding some controversial Australian content creators including a white nationalist and an anti-vaxxer influencer.

Meta says it does not “police offensiveness.” This isn't about policing, though. It's about who Meta pays. ABC NEWS Verify used WHAT TO FIX's Meta #MonetizationArchive to investigate these accounts' monetization history. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08...

monetization.wtfWho Makes Money From Social Media?Investigate platforms' revenue redistribution schemes.

Monetization is not passive. When Meta pays creators, it is not merely “hosting speech.” It's entering into a commercial relationship, deciding who can earn, and shaping the market for content. Have a look at the data for yourself: monetization.wtf

WHAT TO FIX reposted

Who Targets Me

@whotargets.me

Investigation from Australia on Meta paying far-right content creators, despite them likely breaking Meta's criteria for monetisation (in one case, even X has banned the account). More excellent work from @whattofix.tech. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08...

Correction: only reason there is "enough" transparency is because we've been downloading the data for 7 years 🫣 Meta's data only tells you if an account is monetized today [if you're lucky and their dashboard doesn't crash] But yeah, nothing on the $$. And other platforms don't even do as much.

Who Targets Me@whotargets.me

One key part of the piece is the fact that, there's enough transparency to see that the accounts are enrolled in the monetisation programme, but not to see what they get paid. This needs to change - not just in Australia, but everywhere.

We published 3 investigations. Emailed Meta's executives. Sent press inquiries. Submitted countless on-platform reports. Filed 4 #DSA Art. 16 notices. Went to a dispute settlement body... And still…

Monetization is a Platform Governance issue. Monetization enforcement + complaint and notice-handling systems must be adequate to effectively mitigate the risk of financial benefits flowing to sanctioned actors AND any other actor disseminating content fueling systemic risks.

Check out the full report for: ♦️ List of accounts monetizing despite sanctions ♦️ Detailed timeline of notifications made to Meta ♦️ Overview of Meta's responses and observed ♦️ Detailed record of WHAT TO FIX’s DSA Art.16 notices. www.whattofix.tech/publications...

As of 20 July 2026, ** 4 of the 11 accounts ** affiliated with EU-sanctioned FIMI actors we flagged to Meta continued to display public indicators of #monetization access.

🚨 New audit: Are tech platforms playing fair with creators? We reviewed the #monetization terms of YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and X The result? **Not a single platform fully complies with Article 14 of the Digital Services Act (DSA).** 🧵

We recommend platforms: ✅ Publish clear, standalone summaries of monetization terms ✅ Explain how algorithmic systems affect pay-outs ✅ Maintain public changelogs ✅ Provide professional translations in all required languages

whattofix.techAuditing VLOPs’ Monetization TermsThe Monetization Black Box: Why Platform Terms are Failing Creators Under the DSA

Clear and accessible terms isn't just good practice—it's a legal obligation under the #DSA. Read the full audit here: 🔗 www.whattofix.tech/publications... Want to improve monetization governance with us? 📩 hello@whattofix.tech

Language accessibility is another problem. Despite legal obligations, some platforms fail to provide proper translations. Example: Instagram's "Gaelic" and Latvian versions simply display the English text.

Perhaps most concerning: None of the platforms explain the procedures, measures, or tools used to enforce monetization restrictions. Creators and publishers often don't know: • why they're restricted • how decisions are made • what role algorithms play

Financial transparency is also lacking. 𝕏 states that creators should have **"no expectation"** that revenue-sharing rates will remain the same over time. That leaves creators with little clarity about how revenue is calculated or redistributed.

The compliance scores are poor: ❌ Instagram: 1/8 DSA requirements met ❌ TikTok: 1/8 ⚠️ Even the best performers—X and Snapchat—met only 3 and 4/8. There's significant room for improvement across the board.

One of the most surprising findings: 🔒 YouTube's monetization terms aren't publicly accessible. You can only view them if you're logged in and already meet eligibility requirements. It's hard to scrutinize rules that the public can't even read.

Every platform we audited reserves the right to restrict monetization or withhold payments at its **"sole discretion"**. TikTok goes even further, allowing termination for "convenience".

Our main finding: the rules governing how creators get paid remain a **black box**. Millions of creators and publishers are subject to broad discretionary decisions, with little transparency about how monetization works or how it can be taken away.

digital-strategy.ec.europa.euSecond report on systemic risks on very large online platforms and search engines under the Digital Services ActEvery year, the Board for Digital Services and the European Commission publish a report on the landscape of prominent and recurrent risks on very large online platforms (VLOPs) and search engines (VLO...

Are platforms' monetization policies and their enforcement covered under the #DSA? The Board of Digital Services says YES ✅ The Board's latest report under Article 35(2) DSA recognizes #monetization policies and enforcement as a risk factor. 🧵 digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/s...

We're very pleased to see this 😊 We've been calling for #monetization to be covered under the #DSA for years, and are excited to see platforms' existing monetization practices called out for their adverse impact on illegal content, fundamental rights, civic discourse, public health, and well-being.

whattofix.techDe-Risking Social Media MonetisationRating Platforms’ Coverage of Monetisation-Related Risks in their 2024/2025 DSA Risk Assessment Reports

Next up: we look forward to seeing Very Large Online Platforms reflect monetization as a risk factor in their upcoming #DSA risk assessments. We audited the latest edition for #monetization coverage, and they all failed the test. Read more: www.whattofix.tech/publications...

@whattofix.tech along with 15 organizations and academics called on @ec.europa.eu to broader its understanding of Influencer Marketing transparency in the upcoming Digital Fairness Act.

whattofix.techOpen Letter: DFA’s Influencer Marketing Rules Must Encompass All Platform Monetisation ServicesWHAT TO FIX leads open letter requesting upcoming Digital Fairness Act proposal to expand influencer marketing rules to all platform monetisation services

Consumers deserve the full context on the financial incentives driving the content they consume. This must encompass platform monetization. www.whattofix.tech/publications...

2 July

Platform #monetization isn't just a business model issue: it's a trust, safety, and human rights issue.

2 July

At the 2026 Rights & Risks Forum, we highlighted the need for platforms to: ♦️ assess the risks created by monetization features ♦️ increase transparency around monetization policies ♦️ strengthen safeguards against financial abuse ♦️ ensure fair processes for creators.

globalnetworkinitiative.orgSummary Report: Rights and Risks Forum 2026 - Global Network InitiativeToday, the Global Network Initiative (GNI) and the Digital Trust & Safety Partnership (DTSP) are […]

2 July

As platforms continue to expand creator monetization tools, these systems should be treated as a core risk factor in platform risk assessments. Not an afterthought. Full Report: globalnetworkinitiative.org/summary-repo...

WHAT TO FIX reposted

CAAD_Coalition

@caadcoalition.bsky.social

1 July

Ad money is still flowing to repeat disinformation peddlers. @whattofix.tech's “Demonetizing Disinformers” report shows how platforms enforce demonetisation in practice and what needs to change. www.whattofix.tech/publications...

whattofix.techDemonetizing Repeat Disinformers: Meta’s Monetization Enforcement in PracticeWe analyzed 290 Facebook pages fact checked 10+ times by one of Meta’s Third-Party Fact-Checking partner between 2020 and 2025 and found that Meta’s existing mitigation measures fail to prevent repeat...