The World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) has announced the launch of its Privacy & Tech Forum, a new initiative aimed at helping brand owners address declining consumer trust in digital advertising amid increasing regulatory scrutiny. The forum, chaired by Jacqui Stephenson, WFA's Responsible & Purpose Marketing Officer, brings together policy, legal, privacy, and media professionals to tackle complex data and digital governance challenges. It focuses on creating better brand-consumer interactions by fostering cross-sector connections and sharing best practices for compliance and ethical data use, going beyond mere regulatory adherence to rebuild trust.
The forum's launch comes as the European Commission intensifies enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which imposes strict transparency and accountability obligations on very large online platforms. On 20 April 2026, Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen detailed the Commission's transparency rules for interactions with platforms, confirming that since January 2025, staff meetings with interest representatives are minuted and published. Earlier that day, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen rejected US allegations of DSA censorship, vowing robust enforcement and protection of staff. Virkkunen also rebutted censorship claims on 20 April, highlighting that user appeals led to Meta reversing nearly a third of 68 million moderation actions. The WFA forum aims to help advertisers navigate this evolving regulatory landscape, where platforms face investigations for addictive designs and inadequate age verification, as Virkkunen outlined on 15 April. The forum's resources, including a Data Ethics Playbook and a CMO Guide to Data Ethics, provide voluntary guidance for ethical data use, complementing the DSA's mandated transparency. By building a community for senior marketers, the WFA seeks to balance regulatory compliance with consumer trust, addressing the tension between data-driven marketing and privacy concerns that underpin recent EU actions. The forum's focus on practical solutions reflects the industry's need to adapt to the DSA's requirements while maintaining effective advertising strategies.
← Atlas › News › Digital & Communication