Is the Rise of Startups Selling Trust and Safety as a Service Beneficial or Harmful?

Pros:
1. Enhanced trust: Startups selling trust and safety as a service can help build trust between businesses and their users or customers.
2. Regulatory compliance: These services can assist tech companies in complying with increasing scrutiny and regulations, reducing legal risks.
3. Expertise and guidance: Startups specializing in trust and safety provide valuable expertise and guidance on best practices, helping businesses navigate complex challenges.
4. Time and cost-saving: Outsourcing trust and safety services can save time and resources for tech companies who would otherwise need to build these capabilities in-house.

Cons:
1. Potential over-reliance: Relying heavily on external trust and safety services may lead companies to neglect developing their own internal competencies, making them vulnerable in the long run.
2. Lack of customization: Generic trust and safety solutions may not always align perfectly with a company’s specific needs and unique technological infrastructure.
3. Dependency on third-party services: Tech companies depending on external providers for trust and safety services can face disruptions if the service provider experiences issues or goes out of business.
4. Potential loss of control: Outsourcing trust and safety functions means relinquishing some control over critical aspects of a company’s operations, potentially impacting decision-making and agility.

context: https://www.wired.com/story/trust-and-safety-startups-big-tech/

The fast-growing trust and safety industry offers assistance to tech companies in managing scrutiny and regulation. However, these services also come with their own set of challenges.