OnlyFans is committed to building the safest digital media platform in the world. We have a number of policies and procedures in place to ensure we are keeping our Creators and Fans safe, but we decided to go a step further.
In August 2021 we chose to appoint an independent third party, which we call a "Monitor", to assess and validate the design, implementation, and effectiveness of our safety compliance program. The Monitorship concluded in April 2025.
OnlyFans is proud to be the first social media platform to voluntarily take this step to protect users of our platform.
What is a Monitor and what does the Monitor do?
A Monitor does not work for OnlyFans. The Monitor is an independent third party whose job is to review our safety program, including our policies and procedures, and our employees, to make sure we are doing all we can to keep our platform safe. The Monitor made recommendations on how OnlyFans can follow the law, meet best practices, and live up to our core values.
Who was the Monitor?
Michael W. Ward – a lawyer at Baker Botts, a leading global law firm – served as the Monitor. Mr. Ward fought cyber-crime and child exploitation for 16 years as a U.S. federal prosecutor. He also worked as a Chief Compliance Officer for several high profile tech companies. Mr. Ward and his team in the U.S. and U.K. have extensive experience and expertise in looking at our approach to user safety.
What did the Monitorship cover?
OnlyFans did not define the scope of the Monitorship. The Monitor and his team independently determined the assessment and review process, and the resulting recommendations. OnlyFans imposed no restrictions on Monitor access to content, nor did we seek to limit the Monitor's consultation with external stakeholders including outspoken critics.
What did the Monitor do?
OnlyFans provided the Monitor and its forensic advisory firm with access to all key personnel, documentation and data, and information. The Monitor learned about our business, tested how things work, and let us know where we could improve. The Monitor, among other things:
- Spoke with employees and management at OnlyFans;
- Reviewed Company policies and procedures related to safety;
- Reviewed data and trends of safety-related metrics;
- Performed extensive forensic analysis of OnlyFans safety and compliance decision making; and
- Compared OnlyFans' safety programme against legal requirements and comparable platforms.
What did the Monitor conclude?
The Monitorship program was completed in April 2025. The Monitor concluded that OnlyFans effectively implemented all of the recommendations made by the Monitor and his team during the Monitorship process.
The Monitor confirmed that OnlyFans has designed a risk-based compliance program in alignment with the United States of America's Department of Justice guidance, and has committed adequate resources to sustain these efforts.
Based on his independent evaluation, the Monitor certified that OnlyFans' Safety Compliance Program is designed and implemented to prevent and detect violations of applicable law and regulations.
What happens after the Monitorship concludes?
OnlyFans is always evolving our safety and compliance program to ensure we keep our Creators and Fans safe on our platform. We will continue to evaluate and test our ongoing compliance efforts through an annual independent review.
Who may I contact if I have questions?
If you have any questions or concerns about our voluntary Monitorship, please contact us at compliance@onlyfans.com.