Procedure transparency at Malt - moderating and listing

At Malt, We are aware of our responsibility to promote a safe and respectful online environment. In accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 (the EU Digital Services Act or DSA), Malt provides the following report on content moderation activities engaged during the period of January 1st - December 31, 2025. Our goal is to make this report more comprehensive and well-documented each year.

The 2025 Malt's Transparency report is available here.

Previous reports

The 2024 Malt's transparency report is available here: "Malt Transparency Report 2024" 

Malt is a European marketplace where over a million freelancers and independent consultants offer their skills and expertise to companies looking for external talent to support their internal teams. Malt facilitates the connection between freelancers and clients while ensuring a secure working environment for both parties. Malt’s mission is to provide everyone with the freedom to choose what work they do and who they do it with. We hope to empower everyone to shape their careers to fit exactly what they are looking for.

Listing consists of transforming unstructured data (eg. natural language in a freelancer's bio) into structured categories (eg. skills, years of experience, availability) to make freelancers’ profiles available to potential clients based on their requirements. Moderating, automated or human led, consists of identifying and removing inappropriate content or conduct (“Inappropriate Behavior”), as well as sanctioning Users who violate the terms and conditions applicable to the Marketplace.

This transparency policy for listing and moderating (this “Policy”) is designed to foster a safe, transparent, and predictable online environment. By clearly defining our standards, we provide users with a comprehensive understanding of what constitutes a valid listing, how we identify illegal or non-compliant content, and the specific procedures available for contesting moderation decisions. Through these objective criteria and rigorous due diligence processes, we aim to protect our community while mitigating systemic risks such as fraud, illegal goods, and harmful speech.

Any capitalized term is defined in the terms and conditions available here. Users are invited to contact the following address: [email protected], for any questions about the information provided in this Policy. We strive to make our policies understandable to all users. If you require a version of this policy in a language other than English, please contact us at [email protected]. We will endeavor to provide you with a translation or the necessary assistance in a reasonable timeframe. Please note that in the event of any discrepancy or conflict between the English version and any translated version, the English version shall prevail.

Malt is an experts’ directory where a Client may find the best profile that meets its need. To match the Freelancer with the Client, the algorithm takes into consideration (i) the Client’s requirements; (ii) the Freelancer profile; and (iii) the Freelancer’s activity on the Marketplace. You can find more information about Malt’s algorithm in our resources center.

With regards to the Client’s requirements, the algorithm will take into consideration the client’s keywords, indicated location, optional filters including key skills, language, experience level, average daily rate; or the Client can submit a brief through the AI Search which will analyze key elements for the Project and request confirmation from the Client that the brief is exhaustive/accurate highlighting main criteria sought. Client’s requirements also include the Project start-date, and duration.

With regards to the Freelancer’s profile, the algorithm will take into consideration user data such as job title and expertise category, key skills, language spoken professionally, experience level, professional description, location, daily rate, place of work and/or home office preference, number of third-party recommendations, preferred industry, preferred company size. A Freelancer’s profile should be completed.

Because most Projects are signed on the day they are issued, and Clients are limited in the number of Freelancers they can contact for one Project, the Freelancer’s availability and responsiveness to clients on the platform is important – that what we refer to as the Freelancer’s activity on the Marketplace. Thus, with regards to the Freelancer’s activity, the algorithm will take into consideration the average response time (positive or negative), profile updates, number of client evaluations, number of projects realized on the platform. Freelancers that are new joiners are given a three-weeks boost to get them going.

In addition, the Freelancer must have indicated that he or she is available, or available in the next two months; the freelancer must not have received more than 6 assignment offers in the last 7 days; the average daily rate provided by the freelancer must correspond to the budget defined by the client up to +/- 25% of the price.

To keep the platform a safe environment, Malt has implemented an automated and human led moderation of Inappropriate Behavior that may lead to a warning, delisting or account suspension in accordance with Malt’s terms. While Malt may use some automated tool to detect Inappropriate Behavior in addition to notices it receives in accordance with section 4 of this Policy, Malt generally performs a human-led review of flagged content.

Whether it is in a Project brief, a conversation, in a review or a recommendation, or directly in a Freelancer’s profile, any behavior that qualifies as “inappropriate” may lead to the Content being delisted or removed from the platform; and/or the User account being suspended.

Inappropriate Behavior includes but is not limited to illegal content meaning any information that, in itself or in relation to an activity, is not in compliance with European Union regulations or the laws of any Member State such as incitement to terrorism, recruitment, or training for terrorist activities; any imagery, text, or grooming behavior involving minors; incitement to violence or hatred directed against a group of persons or a member of such a group defined by reference to race, religion, descent, or national or ethnic origin; unauthorized use of copyrighted material, or trademark violations; sale of prohibited services.

Inappropriate Behavior also includes Content or conduct that violates Malt’s terms, Code of conduct such as bypassing Malt’s platform; persistent, targeted attacks on users that create a hostile environment such as phishing; using the platform for spams and/or deceptive practices.

Furthermore, to guarantee the quality of the Projects offered to Freelancers, Malt has established several safeguards. A Client may not contact more than six Freelancers at a time; the first Project submitted by a new Client via AI Search is subject to review by our team before being offered to Freelancers.

At the end of each Project, Clients and Freelancers are both encouraged to review their collaboration. Reviews and recommendations must reflect objective considerations and cannot, under any circumstances, include excessive or insulting elements. We reserve the right to delete any such reviews or recommendations.

Reviews left by a Client may appear on the Freelancer’s page – it may be in an anonymized way if the Client’s representative has since then deleted his/her profile. Reviews may be hidden directly by the Freelancer on their profile.

Freelancers can have themselves recommended by third parties such as colleagues, friends or former Clients, with whom they have worked in the past. Recommendations may be hidden directly by the Freelancer on their profile. The Freelancer undertakes nonetheless not to publish, or have published, phony reviews on their profile.

Malt takes reporting seriously as misuse of the Marketplace can negatively impact users of the platform.

One can at all times click on the “Identify a fraudulent activity” icon represented by a flag that is available in the messaging system.

Each User is invited to bring to the attention of Malt any Inappropriate Behavior that may be contrary to this Policy. Any report must be sent to the following address: [email protected] and must include a description of the disputed facts (screenshot), their precise location on the platform (URL), as well as the reasons for which the content must be removed.

Malt undertakes to act quickly in response to any report from a User. Each report will be handled impartially and transparently. If necessary, Malt reserves the right to take appropriate measures.