Influencer Intelligence Consulting

Influencer marketing
has a
due diligence gap.

Signal Intelligence delivers independent creator due diligence, portfolio risk assessment and regulatory compliance intelligence for enterprise brands that cannot afford to find out the hard way.

Market intelligence Live data
72%
of brands experienced at least one brand safety incident in their influencer partnerships last year
Source: Influencer Marketing Hub Benchmark Report 2025
$340K
average cost of a single brand safety incident, including lost revenue and reputational damage
Brand Safety Statistics 2025
0.01%
of a creator's content history is reviewed in a typical 30-minute vetting process
EMARKETER Report 2025
Fashion brand drops influencer after racist posts resurface — campaign written off
Beauty ambassador arrested mid-campaign — brand held co-liable under French Influencer Act
DTC brand discovers 67% fake followers — £340K budget allocated to fabricated reach
Supplement brand sued after creator makes unverified health claims in sponsored post
AI influencer "attends" Wimbledon — brand association formed without any contract or disclosure
Financial services brand faces FCA inquiry after ambassador's undisclosed conflicts emerge
German brand liable under UWG for influencer's disclosure failure — competitor brings case
Creator's co-parent publicly names FBI murder plot — brand had active campaign that morning
Fashion brand drops influencer after racist posts resurface — campaign written off
Beauty ambassador arrested mid-campaign — brand held co-liable under French Influencer Act
DTC brand discovers 67% fake followers — £340K budget allocated to fabricated reach
Supplement brand sued after creator makes unverified health claims in sponsored post
AI influencer "attends" Wimbledon — brand association formed without any contract or disclosure
Financial services brand faces FCA inquiry after ambassador's undisclosed conflicts emerge
German brand liable under UWG for influencer's disclosure failure — competitor brings case
Creator's co-parent publicly names FBI murder plot — brand had active campaign that morning
The Problem

Most brands find out
too late.

96.6%
of brands want documented vetting of their influencer partnerships
Source: EMARKETER Brand Safety Report 2025
25.6%
of brands consistently receive that documentation
EMARKETER
59.8%
of brands experienced influencer fraud in 2024 — up from 31% in 2022
Influencer Marketing Hub 2025

Most brands activate creators with minimal due diligence. A follower count check. A quick scroll through recent posts. A gut feel. That is not a process. It is not defensible. And it is not enough.

The risk is rarely visible in a creator's feed. It lives in their personal history, their business relationships, their regulatory compliance record and the narratives forming around them in corners of the internet nobody thought to check.

When it goes wrong — and it goes wrong for 72% of brands every year — the question from legal, from the board, from the press is always the same: what did you do to prevent this?

Signal Intelligence gives you an answer to that question. A documented, sourced, auditable answer.

Legal intelligence — published 24 May 2026

"The legal system is gradually aligning the responsibilities of digital content creators with the harms their influence can cause." — Antonis Glykis & Christina Avgousti, Elias Neocleous & Co LLC, Cyprus Mail

Regulatory Landscape

The law is catching up.
Fast.

Every major European market now has active enforcement. Select a market to see the specific regulatory framework your brand faces.

UWG (Unfair Competition Act) · HWG (Medicines Advertising Act)
Germany — Joint liability for brand partners
High enforcement risk
The risk for brands

Under §5a(4) UWG, brands are liable for their influencers’ disclosure failures — even when a creator posts independently without brand supervision. A competitor brand can bring a private UWG enforcement case against you. This is not theoretical: it happens regularly in the German market.

Health brands face dual exposure under the HWG. Any health claim made by an influencer in a sponsored post — even a mild one — must be clinically substantiated. An influencer saying your skincare “clears skin” without qualification is an HWG breach you own.

Signal Intelligence checks
  • Disclosure compliance review against UWG §5a(4) requirements
  • Health claim analysis under HWG for wellness and beauty creators
  • Competitor conflict screening — who else has this creator worked with
  • Employment conflict check — PR and agency affiliations
  • Disclosure label placement audit (hashtag clouds and “See More” not sufficient)
Cartel-level Private enforcement by competitors is common in Germany. No regulator needed.
Loi n°2023-451 (French Influencer Act) · ARPP Code
France — Joint and several liability. Brands, creators and agents all exposed.
Highest legislative risk in Europe
The risk for brands

France is the first country in Europe to define influencers in law. Under Law n°2023-451, brands are jointly and severally liable with their creator partners and their agents for any harm resulting from promotional activity. This includes criminal liability for agents — potential imprisonment for prohibited promotions.

Prohibited categories include cosmetic surgery, highly speculative financial products, certain health treatments and gambling. Fines reach €300,000. AI-edited content must be labelled as “retouched” or “virtual” under a 2024 requirement.

Signal Intelligence checks
  • Joint and several liability assessment — who else is in the contractual chain
  • Prohibited category screening for your product/service category
  • ARPP Certificate of Responsible Influence verification
  • AI content detection — retouched imagery labelling compliance
  • Agent/management relationship mapping
€300,000 Maximum fine. Plus potential imprisonment for agents involved in prohibited promotions.
Royal Decree 444/2024 · LGCA (General Audiovisual Communication Law)
Spain — Influencers classified as broadcast service providers
New framework — active enforcement
The risk for brands

Spain’s Royal Decree 444/2024 (May 2024) is one of the most ambitious influencer regulations in Europe. Creators with 1M+ followers or €300K+ annual income are legally classified as audiovisual communication service providers — subject to the same rules as television broadcasters.

These “High Profile Influencers” (HIPIs) must register with the State Registry, comply with broadcasting advertising rules and observe strict content prohibitions including alcohol, tobacco and certain financial products. Brands working with unregistered HIPIs inherit the compliance risk.

Signal Intelligence checks
  • HIPI classification check — does this creator meet the registration threshold
  • State Registry verification — are they registered as required
  • Prohibited product category screening for your campaign
  • Disclosure label compliance under LGCA broadcasting rules
  • Minor protection compliance — audience age profile screening
77.75% Of Spanish influencer content found non-compliant in 2023 enforcement sweeps. Source: NatLaw Review.
AGCM Consumer Code · Ferragni Law · AGCOM Code of Conduct (July 2025)
Italy — Highest penalties in Europe. Active enforcement.
Highest fines in Europe
The risk for brands

Italy has the highest maximum fines for influencer marketing violations in Europe — up to €600,000. The Chiara Ferragni Pandorogate scandal directly prompted the Ferragni Law, which now specifically regulates charitable marketing claims in influencer partnerships.

From July 2025, AGCOM's dedicated Code of Conduct applies to all influencers with 500,000+ followers or 1M monthly views. Italy’s AGCM issues “moral suasion letters” as a warning before imposing penalties — brands whose creators have received these letters are on notice.

Signal Intelligence checks
  • AGCM enforcement history — has this creator received moral suasion letters
  • Ferragni Law compliance — charitable claims screening
  • AGCOM Code of Conduct applicability and compliance
  • Disclosure compliance under Italian consumer law
  • Cross-reference against AGCM public enforcement database
€600,000 Maximum fine — the highest influencer marketing penalty in Europe.
Dutch Media Act · ACM Consumer Authority
Netherlands — First influencer fine issued June 2024
Active and accelerating
The risk for brands

Dutch influencers with 500,000+ followers must register with the Media Authority and comply with the Media Act’s advertising rules. In June 2024 the Dutch Media Authority imposed its first-ever influencer fine — ruling that #ad buried in hashtag clouds or descriptions does not constitute adequate disclosure. Brands are co-liable.

The Netherlands ACM consumer authority separately enforces against unfair commercial practices. Dutch enforcement is methodical and document-focused — brands without clear contractual disclosure requirements are exposed.

Signal Intelligence checks
  • Media Authority registration verification for 500K+ creators
  • Disclosure placement audit — Dutch rules require prominent, standalone labelling
  • ACM enforcement history check
  • Contractual disclosure requirement review
  • Brand co-liability exposure assessment
June 2024 First Dutch influencer fine. Enforcement trajectory is clearly upward. Brands should not wait.
Code of Economic Law · JEP Self-Regulation Code
Belgium — Influencers treated as business operators. Brands directly liable.
Direct brand liability established
The risk for brands

Belgium classifies commercial influencers as business operators under the Code of Economic Law — requiring them to publish business address details or face fines up to €80,000. Advertisers commissioning influencer content are explicitly responsible for monitoring compliance and can be held directly liable for breaches by their creator partners.

Belgium’s JEP (Jury of Ethical Practices in Advertising) self-regulation code adds an additional layer of compliance. Brands in regulated product categories face compound exposure under both frameworks.

Signal Intelligence checks
  • Business operator registration and address disclosure verification
  • JEP code compliance review
  • Advertiser liability exposure assessment
  • Regulated product category screening (cosmetic surgery, financial products, gambling)
  • Disclosure compliance under Code of Economic Law
€80,000 Maximum fine for registration failures. Brands are co-liable for creator non-compliance.
UOKiK (Competition and Consumer Protection) · Consumer Protection Act
Poland — Cartel-level fines. Brands in scope.
Highest fine level in Europe relative to turnover
The risk for brands

Poland’s competition authority UOKiK has established a precedent that should concern every brand operating in the Polish market. A dietary supplements manufacturer was fined PLN 5 million ($1.25M USD) — not for their own disclosure failures but for providing influencer partners with vague disclosure guidelines that resulted in inadequate labelling.

The maximum fine for influencer marketing violations in Poland is 10% of annual company turnover — the same level applied to cartel violations. This is the highest relative penalty in Europe.

Signal Intelligence checks
  • UOKiK enforcement history — brand and category precedents
  • Creator disclosure guidelines review — are your briefing documents compliant
  • Dietary supplement and health product claim screening
  • Contractual disclosure requirement adequacy review
  • Brand exposure assessment under UOKiK enforcement framework
10% turnover Maximum fine — equivalent to cartel enforcement. Brands, not just creators, are in scope.
Marketing Control Act · Consumer Authority (Forbrukerrådet)
Norway — Among Europe’s most active enforcement bodies
Active enforcement. Financial penalties issued.
The risk for brands

Norway’s Consumer Authority is widely regarded as one of the most proactive influencer marketing enforcement bodies in Europe. Financial penalties for disclosure failures have been issued. The Marketing Control Act requires all sponsored content to be clearly labelled — enforcement extends to brands who commission non-compliant content.

Norway is not an EU member but applies EU-equivalent consumer protection standards. Brands running Scandinavian campaigns often treat Norway as a proxy for regional compliance risk.

Signal Intelligence checks
  • Marketing Control Act disclosure compliance review
  • Consumer Authority enforcement history for creator and category
  • Labelling adequacy assessment — Norwegian standard is among Europe’s strictest
  • Brand co-liability exposure review
  • Cross-Nordic compliance consistency check
Most active Norway's Consumer Authority is among Europe's most proactive influencer marketing enforcers.
ASA CAP Code · FCA COMC · CMA (DMCCA 2024)
UK — Strengthened enforcement powers from April 2025
Multiple parallel enforcement regimes
The risk for brands

The UK operates three parallel enforcement regimes for influencer marketing. The ASA enforces disclosure compliance under the CAP Code. The FCA’s financial promotions rules apply strictly to any financial services content. From April 2025, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 significantly strengthened CMA and Trading Standards enforcement powers.

FCA guidance specifically addresses “finfluencers” — any creator discussing investments, crypto or financial products. Co-liability for brands activating these creators in the UK is well-established.

Signal Intelligence checks
  • ASA CAP Code disclosure compliance — placement and prominence audit
  • FCA financial promotion compliance for fintech and investment brands
  • CMA unfair commercial practices screening
  • FCA finfluencer register check (if applicable)
  • Historical ASA ruling search for creator and brand category
April 2025 DMCCA 2024 enforcement began. CMA powers significantly strengthened. Brands should audit existing partnerships now.
Denmark MFL · Sweden MFL · Finland Consumer Authority · Cross-border co-enforcement
Nordic region — Cross-border co-enforcement accelerating
Regional multiplier risk
The risk for brands

Denmark, Sweden and Finland have each issued national financial penalties for influencer disclosure failures. The emerging risk for brands is cross-border co-enforcement — Nordic regulators increasingly share intelligence and coordinate action. A disclosure failure in one Scandinavian market is now visible to regulators in neighbouring countries.

Brands running pan-Nordic campaigns with a single influencer face multiplied regulatory exposure across three jurisdictions simultaneously. The Scandinavian influencer market is large and compliance enforcement is accelerating rapidly.

Signal Intelligence checks
  • Multi-jurisdiction disclosure compliance review
  • Cross-border enforcement history check
  • Audience geography mapping — which national rules apply to which audience segment
  • Labelling requirement consistency across DK/SE/FI/NO
  • Campaign-level compliance architecture for pan-Nordic activation
3× exposure Pan-Nordic campaigns face simultaneous regulatory exposure in Denmark, Sweden and Finland — plus Norway for non-EU content.
EU AI Act · Digital Services Act · UCPD · Influencer Legal Hub
EU-wide — The overarching framework. Fully effective 2026.
27 markets. One framework. Local enforcement.
The risk for brands

The EU operates an overarching framework that applies across all 27 member states — on top of which each country adds its own national rules. The Unfair Commercial Practices Directive treats influencers as traders in every EU market. The Digital Services Act requires platforms to take down illegal influencer content within 24 hours. The EU AI Act (2026) requires AI-generated content to be labelled.

The European Commission’s Influencer Legal Hub (2024) provides coordinated guidance and templates — but compliance with the hub does not guarantee compliance with national rules layered on top. The EU framework is the floor, not the ceiling.

Signal Intelligence checks
  • UCPD compliance review across all activated markets
  • EU AI Act applicability — AI-generated content detection and labelling
  • DSA platform obligations mapping for your campaign structure
  • Influencer Legal Hub compliance baseline assessment
  • National layer mapping — what additional rules apply market by market
27 markets One EU framework, 27 sets of national rules on top. Signal Intelligence maps all of them.
What we do

Four services.
One intelligence layer.

Independent of any platform. Conflict-free. Human-led. Defensible.

01 —
Portfolio Intelligence

We take any influencer roster — however messy, however large — and return a clean, risk-scored, auditable assessment of every creator in it. Handle verification, audience authenticity, preliminary risk classification and coverage gaps. The essential first step before any vetting programme.

Roster audit Handle verification Risk classification Data hygiene
02 —
Creator Due Diligence

Full independent vetting of individual creators across five intelligence dimensions — trajectory, reputation, alignment, content and exposure. We produce a written report with a human go/no-go recommendation you can file, share with legal and stand behind. Not a score. A verdict.

5-dimension analysis Risk scoring Written verdict Audit-ready PDF
03 —
Ongoing Monitoring

Weekly or daily monitoring of approved creator portfolios. We surface material changes — not noise. Every alert is pre-analysed by a human before it reaches you, with a specific question and a recommended action. You get signal, not volume.

Weekly sweeps Daily alerts Human triage Crisis notification
04 —
Regulatory Compliance

Disclosure compliance review across ASA, FTC, AGCM and market-specific frameworks including Germany's UWG, France's Influencer Act and the EU AI Act. We identify compliance gaps in your creator programme before a regulator or competitor does.

ASA / FTC / AGCM German UWG French Influencer Act EU AI Act
Why Signal Intelligence

Independent. Conflict-free.
Human-led.

⚖️

We make the call

Other services give you a score. We give you a verdict — go, proceed with conditions, hold for review, no-go or blacklist. A decision you can defend to your legal team, your board and your press team if it ever comes to that.

🔍

We work across your data partners

We are not a platform. We are not trying to replace your existing influencer marketing tools. We use best-in-class data sources to inform our analysis — then apply human judgement to reach a conclusion your tools cannot.

📋

Everything is documented

Every assessment is timestamped, sourced and auditable. When legal, compliance or the board asks how you made a partnership decision, you have a complete and defensible answer. Most brands cannot say that.

“Amber Call” — this is our service

Anyone can flag an obvious red. The value is in the nuanced middle — the creator who looks clean but isn’t. Our analysts live in the amber zone. That is where brand safety decisions are actually made.

🌍

Global coverage, local expertise

We understand the regulatory landscape across UK, US, EU, German, French and Italian markets. Our assessments reflect the specific compliance requirements of the markets your creators are activating in.

🤝

No conflicts. No campaigns.

We do not run influencer campaigns. We do not represent talent. We have no financial interest in whether you activate a creator or not. Our only incentive is getting the call right. That independence is everything.

About

Built by people who
understand Risk.

The Founding Team
Signal Intelligence · London

Influencer risk is poorly understood, inconsistently evaluated and almost never properly documented. Brands are activating creators based on follower counts and content aesthetic. Agencies are vetting against basic checklists. Platforms are surfacing scores without explaining what is behind them.


The result is a 72% brand safety incident rate and an industry where the documented, defensible, human-led intelligence that enterprise decisions require simply does not exist at scale. Brands find out about creator risk the worst possible way — mid-campaign, in the press, in a board meeting.


Signal Intelligence was built to change that. Bringing together senior experience in credit risk and portfolio management, social media intelligence and enterprise influencer marketing — three disciplines that understand risk, signals and commercial reality. We exist because the brands we work with cannot afford to find out too late.

Business Risk Discipline

Portfolio-level thinking, scoring methodology and documentation standards borrowed from financial services due diligence — applied to influencer relationships for the first time.

Social media intelligence

Platform-native understanding of where risk actually surfaces — in comment sections, private communities, fringe platforms and narrative threads forming before they become news.

Influencer marketing expertise

Senior experience inside the platforms and agencies that power enterprise influencer programmes — we understand the commercial reality, not just the compliance requirement.

Signal above the noise

Our analysts surface what matters — not what’s easy to find. The signal that protects your brand is rarely the obvious one. That is what we are built to find.

Get in touch
Let's talk about your creator programme.

Tell us what you have and what you need. We will come back within one business day with a clear proposal — no jargon, no platform sales pitch, no lengthy onboarding.

⏱️
Response time
Within one business day
📍
Based in
London, United Kingdom
Send us a message