SwayID Research | Evidence-Based Compliance Systems for AI-Era Advertising

🚨 $43,792 FTC Fine Per Non Compliant UGC Now in Effect -->

COMPLIANCE

$43,792 fine per influencer post now in effect. Get FTC compliant ASAP.

Does SwayID work? We're conducting a study to find out.

We’re running a live, OSF-registered field study with 5–7 beauty brands to measure real-world FTC compliance outcomes, legal defensibility, and operational impact.

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Study Overview

Can a behavioral compliance system reduce deception and make influencer marketing trustworthy again? This live field study is evaluating whether embedding a structured compliance system into influencer workflows can:

1. Improve FTC disclosure rates

2. Reduce internal compliance effort

3. Restore legal defensibility in the age of synthetic content

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WHAT WE'RE STUDYING

The system under evaluation is the SwayID Smart Disclosure System, which includes:

1. A per-post Disclosure Generator that standardizes FTC language, placement, and linkage

2. Smart Disclosure Links that auto-update across creator and brand surfaces

3. A shared, immutable Court-Grade Audit Log for timestamped proof of compliance

We’re running a stepped-wedge field study across 5–7 U.S. beauty brands to measure disclosure compliance, auditability, and operational friction before and after implementation.

WHAT'S PUBLIC NOW
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This study is pre-registered and transparently documented on the Open Science Framework (OSF).

You can view:

1. Study design and hypotheses

2. FTC-aligned audit rubric

3. Privacy, ethics, and data handling practices

4. Planned analysis methods
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WHY IT MATTERS

1. $43,792 FTC fines per post (per 2024 ruling)

2. $400M+ in class action exposure tied to influencer campaigns

3. Erosion of consumer trust due to synthetic and undisclosed content
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Most brands still rely on ad hoc, unverifiable methods. This study asks: Can infrastructure fix it?‍

SwayID Research FAQs

What is the purpose of SwayID Research?

SwayID Research exists to design and rigorously test systems that restore and maintain consumer trust in advertising — especially in the AI era. We publish our studies publicly to validate that our compliance infrastructure is both legally defensible and behaviorally effective.

Who runs SwayID Research?

SwayID Research is led by the internal compliance, legal, and systems design teams at SwayID. Our research is authored by internal staff and external collaborators with relevant domain expertise.

Where are your research studies published?

All research is pre-registered and published through The Open Science Framework (OSF), a public registry used by researchers and institutions worldwide.

Why focus on influencer marketing and UGC ads?

These formats are the most legally volatile and least regulated spaces in digital marketing today. We aim to provide evidence-backed infrastructure for high-risk verticals like beauty, wellness, fintech, and more.

How are your studies conducted?

We use real-world field trials such as stepped-wedge or pre-post studies with active brand and creator participants. We measure real compliance outcomes like FTC violation rate, internal cost, and stakeholder confidence.

Can I participate in a study?

Yes. We are currently recruiting mid-market brands for future studies. Contact research@swayid.com learn more or apply.

Are creators involved in the research?

Yes. Our studies rely on creator behavior to measure compliance outcomes, but all creator data is anonymized unless express permission is granted.

Do you collect personal data?

We collect operational data from platform usage, but all raw data is securely stored and de-identified before analysis. No personal data is ever shared or published without express consent.

Are your studies IRB approved?

Our operational compliance studies do not target consumers directly and typically do not require IRB review. If individual-level survey data is collected, we work with brand partners to confirm local review requirements.

Is SwayID evaluating its own product?

Yes — and we disclose that openly. Our studies are designed to be reproducible, and we publish both the protocols and the code used in analysis to ensure accountability.

Where can I see the full study protocol?

Each study has a full, timestamped research protocol available on OSF. The current flagship study on Smart Disclosures is available here.

The first sponsored content protection solution undergoing a live, OSF-registered field study.

We're not just claiming legal defensibility. We're proving it. Our protocol, audit rubric, and compliance outcomes are now public and traceable in real brand campaigns.

View the Research Study

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SwayID is not an attorney or a law firm. Nor is it a substitute for an attorney or law firm. We do not provide legal advice nor do we practice law. This site only contains legal information, not legal advice. This site does not create an attorney-client relationship. We provide no guarantee regarding case outcomes nor are we liable for any case outcomes. Use of its products are governed by its Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Legal Disclaimer.