In July 2018, Facebook signed up with JICWEBS and began the audit process to certify Instagram and Facebook to the DTSG Good Practice Principles. In January 2019, Facebook was granted an extension to submit its report due to the size and complexity of the audits.

Facebook’s feed-based media platform, accompanied by its use of AI posed new challenges. JICWEBS and the auditor have been working closely to ensure reporting accurately reflects the way Facebook operates and transparently shows how the JICWEBS Good Practice Principles are applied.

Throughout the process, Facebook has been fully committed to working with JICWEBS to complete the certification and provide the digital ad industry with the necessary confidence in the platform. The auditor attended a Facebook Community Operations Day in June as part of their work. Facebook is looking to complete the audit process in the next few months.

Regarding IAB UK’s Gold Standard, Facebook received Gold Standard 1.0 certification in July 2018. The brand safety element of the Gold Standard 1.0 certification – as agreed by IAB UK’s Gold Standard Group which consists of publishers, agencies, ad tech and pure play companies – requires registration with JICWEBS and completion of a DTSG audit within six months. Given JICWEBS has granted Facebook an extension to submit its audit report (due to the size and complexity of the audit), IAB UK have mirrored the extension as part of the Gold Standard and maintained Facebook’s Gold Standard 1.0 certification. If at any stage JICWEBS withdraws this extension, IAB UK will also withdraw Gold Standard certification.