The Trusted European Platforms Label

European social media platforms that you can trust

Trusted European Platforms (TEPs) is programme supports social media platforms that are genuinely European, trustworthy, and built to scale. Developed by Europe MédiaLab, it is awarded by an independent Attribution Committee.

Express your interest
Read the criteria

In short

What the TEPs label is.

An independent label awarded to European social media platforms providing trusted content at scale in Europe.

Read the full procedure →

  • A trust mark for European social media platforms
  • Three pillars, nine criteria and a clear scoring board
  • Decided by an independent committee of 6 experts
  • Voluntary, market-driven, fact-based and compliant with EU law
  • A yearly review with ongoing monitoring

The label measures trust across multiple dimensions.

An assessment that starts from how a platform treats the content for its users, extends to who controls it, and asks whether it can credibly reach the scale to matter.

Pillar 01TrustedHow content, legal compliance and interoperability are integrated.

Covers content integrity and provenance, algorithmic transparency and recommender design, content moderation and dispute resolution, compliance with the EU digital rulebook and copyright law, and interoperability, including portable identity and followers, as well as open protocols.

Pillar 02EuropeanPlatform ownership management and operational presence.

Covers ownership and anti-takeover safeguards such as golden shares or shareholder agreements, the location of data storage, governance and management based in Europe, and the countries served today alongside credible expansion plans.

Pillar 03ScalableSelecting the right business models to reach critical mass.

Covers one or more scalable business model, existing and planned resources, user numbers with an acquisition plan and partnerships, user-centric and accessible design, and active involvement with media and content partners across the ecosystem.

Built on a transparent, independent and structured methodology.

Assigned by a group of diverse and independent experts, based on the following principles.

✳

Voluntary

Platforms choose to join based on their strategic alignment and cease their involvement whenever they deem necessary.

✳

Market-driven

The label reflects real practice by organisations with real users or in pre-launch phase.

✳

Fact-based

Every criterion is verified against evidence and best practices the industry.

✳

EU law compliant

The label is compliant with EU law and raises awareness on the digital regulation rulebook.

Three pillars. Nine criteria.

Each criterion is assessed against a structured scoring board of granular indicators. Below is the full map of what the committee looks at.

Pillar 01

Trusted

Trust & Content Integrity

  • Trust Indicators
  • Content Provenance & Authenticity
  • Algorithmic Transparency & Recommender Design
  • Content Moderation & Dispute Resolution

EU Regulatory Compliance

  • EU Digital Rulebook
  • EU Copyright Law

Interoperability

  • Interoperable Identity
  • Followers Portability
  • Content Portability
  • Protocol Interoperability

Pillar 02

European

Ownership

  • Organisation Ownership
  • Anti-Takeover Mechanism — Golden Share / Shareholder Agreement
  • Data Storage Location

Management

  • Governance & Management from Europe

Footprint

  • Present Countries & Credible Expansion Plans

Pillar 03

Scalable

Scalable Revenue Model

  • Scalable Revenue Model
  • Existing & Planned Resources
  • Number of Users & Acquisition Plan / Partnerships

User-Driven Design

  • User-centric Design
  • Accessible User Interface

Media & Ecosystem Involvement

  • Consultation of Media & Content Partners
How scoring works

Every criterion is scored against a structured board with granular indicators. A platform must meet the minimum requirements in each of the three pillars before the Attribution Committee deliberates and votes. The full methodology is set out in the Attribution Procedure.

From expression of interest to label awards

The Pre-Selection Team runs outreach and assessment; the independent Attribution Committee takes the decision; together they keep every label under review.

01

Expression of interest

Platforms enter through scouting or spontaneous application; an initial exchange sets scope and confidentiality.

Pre-Selection Team

02

Pre-selection

Desk research verifies the three eligibility conditions and filters out candidates below the minimum thresholds.

Pre-Selection Team

03

Criteria pre-assessment

Private data is verified, the criteria are scored, and a full assessment dossier is prepared for the Committee.

Pre-Selection Team

04

Label attribution

The Committee reviews each dossier, deliberates collectively and votes to attribute the label.

Attribution Committee

05

Monitoring

After the label attribution, the Team and the Committee continuously monitor the organisations, with formal annual review, and ad-hoc reviews on material change.

Team & Committee

Outcome A

Label awarded

The platform may use the TEPs mark and enters the monitoring cycle.

Outcome B

Awarded with conditions

Specific improvements are required within a set timeframe, with progress tracked.

Outcome C

Not awarded yet

Oral feedback is given; the platform is free to address the gaps and re-apply.

Why a European label of trust matters.

Europe’s €49bn social-media advertising market is dominated by US and Chinese platforms. A new generation is being built here — the label helps the good actors be recognised.

Without a shared standard

  • Opaque public square
    Recommender systems and moderation stay a black box to users and regulators.
  • Foreign control
    Europe’s democratic space runs on infrastructure owned and steered from outside it.
  • No signal for good actors
    Trustworthy, home-grown platforms have no credible way to prove they are different.
  • Fragmented compliance
    Every platform is judged ad hoc, with no common, EU-aligned benchmark.

With the TEPs label

  • A credible independent signal
    An external assessment by a committee of experts — a reference for investors, regulators and partners.
  • Sovereignty through trusted content
    A visible European alternative to US and Chinese digital infrastructure.
  • A benchmark aligned with EU law
    One structured, fact-based framework instead of case-by-case judgement.
  • Visibility & ecosystem access
    A stage at our events and introductions across the Europe MédiaLab network.

First labels AWARDED JANUARY 2027

Ready to help build a trusted, sovereign European alternative?

If you run a platform, the Expression of Interest takes about ten minutes.

For platforms Express your interest Put your platform forward for assessment by the independent committee. → For experts Read the full Attribution Procedure The process is attribution procedure is transparent but the data involved are strictly confidential. →