by Aimee Cartwright
What is an Exposed Person Check (Epora Check)?
Exposed Person Online Risk Assessment Checks, or EPORA Checks, are social media background checks tailored to people exposed to public view. Agents, recruitment and PR teams can request these checks for influencers, contributors to shows, TV celebrities, and other public figures.
While standard Social Media Checks prioritise risk mitigation, they do not take into account the unique challenges faced by public figures and contributors – such as a high volume of content, potential negative press, and fake accounts.
Utilising sophisticated software, EPORA Checks are carried out by specialist Social Intelligence Officers who are trained to:
- Identify risks in a contributor or public figure’s online profiles
- Contextualise all risks
- Practise objectivity and compliance at all times
For agents, PR teams, brands and production companies, Premium EPORA Checks offer a compelling opportunity to mitigate risks and safeguard reputations.
Challenges Faced by Public Figures and Contributors in the Digital Age
Living under constant digital surveillance means every social media post, like, comment, and share can be scrutinised from every conceivable angle.
The main digital challenges faced by public figures and contributors are:
- High-volume digital footprint
Celebrities, online influencers and public figures tend to have a high-volume digital footprint.
Years of regular content across diverse social media platforms, coupled with regular reposting of old content, makes it tricky for in-house agents, PR teams or HR recruiters to track potential risks independently.
- High risk of reputational damage
The looming threat of negative press hangs over all public figures and contributors, and the more they immerse themselves into the world of social media, the more sinister this threat becomes.
With cancel culture driving rapid public backlash, past statements that were once socially acceptable, or even misattributed content, can lead to severe reputational damage. Reputations constructed over years can be shattered in an instant.
Case Study
Ruby Franke (Former YouTuber, Now Convicted Child Abuser)
The arrest of Ruby Franke in 2023 sent shock waves around the influencer community and the public. Daughter Shari Franke’s recent best-selling memoir The House of My Mother, as well as the upcoming Ruby Franke documentary on Hulu, Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, are proof that the world remains glued to the Ruby Franke sentence.
Over the years, viewers watched as Franke, initially admired by many, morphed into an unrecognisable mother who made her son sleep on a beanbag for seven months, believed her children were demonically possessed, and was eventually charged with six counts of felony aggravated child abuse of her two youngest children.
While it’s clear that no online tool could fully resolve such a severe situation, a formal analysis of old social media posts and videos could have potentially flagged troubling behaviour early on – making space for brands to report issues to authorities and allowing them to distance themselves from Franke’s dangerous mindset.
Why SP Index is the Premium Solution for Risk Mitigation
As the UK leading provider of Social Media Checks, we consistently deliver powerful results for a low cost and an impressive turnaround. Here’s why our premium solution of risk mitigation works:
- Our checks are tailored for you
From research to report, our EPORA Checks (with an unlimited online history) are designed to meet the needs of Agents, HR and PR teams carrying out checks on public figures and contributors.
Our EPORA Experts are trained in analysing subjects with a high-volume digital footprint and a high risk of reputational damage, and our evidence-based reports clearly present any general and industry-specific risks for agents, HR and PR teams to consider, such as:
- Illegal activity
- Racism
- Sexism
- Banned or high-risk connections
- Activist activity
- Endorsement of drugs
- Fraud
- Animal abuse
- Other patterns of adverse content
Uncovering and addressing such risks adds immeasurable value to brands, allows influencers, contributors and celebrities to remove content that no longer aligns with their views, and prevents individuals with harmful online behaviours from receiving sponsorships and endorsements from ethical brands.
- We are fully compliant
SP Index EPORA Checks are fully compliant with UK GDPR (Data Protection Act 2018) and anti-discrimination laws (Equality Act 2010).
We do not access private information as part of our online background checks; WhatsApp messages and private social media accounts will not be incorporated into any of our checks.
- We offer abundant resources and support
Our blog page, LinkedIn profile, and our timely check-ins with customers, drive our mission that you never feel alone in this process.
Sharing invaluable, industry-specific content will always remain a priority for us.
Conclusion
Our Premium EPORA Checks are the one-stop solution for risk mitigation relating to celebrities, contributors, influencers, and public figures.
These powerful online background checks are built on years of extensive research, niche training, and a commitment to delivering premium, tailored solutions to our customers.
Protect your reputation by integrating our compliant EPORA Checks into your risk mitigation strategy.
Telephone: 0800 468 1688
Email: info@sp-index.com
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