Industry Leaders Address AI, Authentication, and Trust

The event brings together journalists, technologists and media leaders to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping media, the corrosive impact of deepfake and shadow content on trust in the media, and the role of content provenance to make the digital landscape safer. It will explore technologies and governance initiatives aimed at protecting the integrity of information and the media in the context of the dramatic rise of AI generated online content.

Panelists include Santiago Lyon, Head of Advocacy and Education, at the Content Authenticity Initiative/Adobe; Duy K. Nguyen, an AI Reporter with The New York Times; Claire Leibowicz, Director of AI, Trust, and Society, at the Partnership on AI; and Simon Erskine Locke, Cofounder and CEO of Tauth Labs, a thought leader on content authentication, member of the FPA board, and former head of communications functions at leading financial institutions.

Why Media.com is Supporting the Event

Media.com has developed the world’s first verified media network and is pursuing the implementation of content credentials in its publishing tools to set an unprecedented standard of trust in information and content created on Media.com.

Media.com’s support of “AI, Trust and the Media” reflects its broader mission to strengthen trusted information infrastructure online. As media consumption increasingly shifts to digital platforms, verification, attribution, and transparent sourcing have become foundational to rebuilding public confidence in information.

The company’s participation aligns with growing global efforts to establish verifiable publishing standards and authenticated digital identities – initiatives increasingly viewed as essential safeguards against misinformation and other online harms.

The Foreign Press Association, founded in 1918, has long served as a convening body for international journalists, promoting professional collaboration and strengthening global media relationships.

The event will be held at The New School on April 13, 2026 at 6 pm and is being held in conjunction with the The New York Times. Media.com’s support has been coordinated by media partner CommPRO, a leading industry publication for public relations, communications and marketing professionals.

For more information about the event and to register to attend, click this link.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – March 30, 2026 — Media.com, an internet technology company with a world-first digital trust infrastructure, today announced the appointment of Michael Weiss to its Board of Directors as the company prepares for its Series A capital raise. A four-decades pioneering entrepreneur, Weiss’ innovations have helped shape how people consume and share digital media around the world. He’s best known for launching the Morpheus P2P platform to over 200 million installs and building WebRadio.com to a $441M valuation in its first year.

Long before Myspace, LinkedIn, Facebook, or TikTok, Weiss advanced a prescient vision: a network that connected people through shared media habits – music, film, and personal taste – that could serve as a powerful social connective tissue, helping people discover what unites them. In an era where social networks and AI are eroding the fabric of trust in society, his appointment to the Media.com board to achieve its mission of rebuilding trust online is timely and pivotal.

“For decades, I’ve believed that shared media could be a force for connection rather than division. The challenge was never the vision—it was having the right platform, governance, and timing to bring it to life, and Media.com uniquely aligns all three,” said Weiss. “At a moment when the internet is rife with bots, fake profiles and AI-generated content, Media.com is uniquely positioned to redefine how information is created and consumed online. I’m here to help guide its growth with intention, responsibility, and the long-term perspective that game-changing internet companies demand.”

Today, that early ideal directly aligns with Media.com founder James Mawhinney’s mission to deliver a credibility layer for the internet which restores trust, accountability and integrity in online information and experiences. Weiss joins the Board to amplify, champion, and help provide the framework for that mission.

“Michael is a rare leader who didn’t just anticipate the evolution of the internet – he helped build it, and he brings a singular combination of foresight, operating experience, and governance discipline to Media.com,” said Mawhinney, founder and CEO, Media.com. “He’s navigated media and technology ecosystems at scale and understands what it takes to build internet companies that endure, and his experience governing complex media platforms – combined with his belief that technology should bring people together rather than pull them apart – makes him an invaluable addition to Media.com. We’re honored to welcome him to the Board and look forward to the leadership and perspective he brings to the company.”

Weiss brings a governance track record shaped by decades of pioneering work across home video, streaming media, and Internet innovation—including leading StreamCast/Morpheus through landmark U.S. Supreme Court litigation and scaling WebRadio.com into one of the earliest successes in online broadcasting. Having helped shape how people discover, share, and experience media for more than four decades, he has deep experience stewarding complex content ecosystems, anticipating regulatory risks, and managing crises – expertise that directly strengthens Media.com’s foundation for responsible scale.

About Media.com

Media.com is an internet technology company which addresses structural internet failings by becoming the internet’s credibility layer. Media.com has built a verified media network – where authentic content is anchored to real people & organizations. Contributors can create, publish, distribute & monetize trusted content. Media.com delivers critical internet infrastructure for trusted information at scale.

Press Contact

For more information or to request interviews, please contact Laura Hall at LHall@media.com or 917.544.6344.

Countless advertising dollars and resources have been wasted by businesses around the world allocating significant media spend to social networks which lack user verification. These networks are breeding grounds for misinformation, disinformation, fake identities, trolls, bots and harmful content, all of which have contributed to an erosion of trust. To combat this, Media.com is leading the shift towards trusted online engagement where all users are verified, so that businesses can advertise on a network knowing they are reaching real customers from more than 60 countries in a brand-safe environment.

Media.com’s representatives will offer Media Ads, a digital advertising solution that enables businesses to promote their products and services to an audience comprising 100 percent verified users on the Media.com network, ensuring campaigns reach authentic audiences in an era where trust and transparency in digital advertising has been eroded by bots, click fraud and artificial intelligence.

“Businesses are done paying for empty clicks and want advertising that connects them with real people, in real markets, with real impact. They want buyers, not bots, and the certainty their ads will perform with their target audiences – and that’s exactly what we deliver,” said Jason Davis, Media.com’s Senior Media Consultant based in California.

The Media Ads soft-launch in the United States will initially focus on the California market, chosen for its strong adoption of new technologies and concentration of early-adopter businesses. The program will also accept advertisers throughout the country, as well as in the United Kingdom and Australia, and will eventually roll out Media Ads to the company’s growing global footprint of verified users.

Using Media Ads, companies can run highly targeted sponsored ads across multiple segments, including age, gender, location, device type, and user interests. This advanced targeting capability allows brands to optimize ad spend while connecting with verified users in a secure, trusted environment.

Sarah Smith, a seasoned media industry executive who recently joined Media.com’s UK-based Media Ads team, said, “Media.com is rewriting the rules of digital advertising, and I’m proud to be part of a movement to rebuild trust in the online ecosystem. With Media Ads, brands finally have a safe, transparent platform to reach real customers and drive growth – the solution advertisers have been demanding.”
According to Statista¹, in 2024, the U.S. digital advertising market was estimated to be the largest in the world, reaching $425 billion, while the UK and Australian markets were estimated to be GBP35.5 billion² and $17.2 billion³ respectively.

Media.com is recommending advertisers revisit their media buying strategies and experience the difference with Media Ads by allocating a portion of existing advertising budgets to join the early movers to secure access and establish a presence on the network ahead of the company’s fast approaching IOS and Android apps release. Advertisers can also create verified profiles for their businesses and employees to show customers they value and are dedicated to digital user and content accountability and transparency.

Further information about Media Ads, including a $500 free advertising credit to eligible advertisers, is available at: www.media.com/advertise.

As an Event Sponsor of this important industry event, Media.com will play a visible role throughout the two-day program, where leaders from Australia’s banking sector, regulators, policymakers, and technology innovators gather to address the future of banking in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Media.com will host an interactive exhibition booth where attendees can experience live product demonstrations, learn about how Media.com protects consumers, and why Media.com is the trusted alternative for social networking. With an interest in fueling critical conversations and connections among attendees, the company is also hosting the conference coffee stand.

According to the Australian government’s 2024 National Anti-Scam Centre Report, “the most reported contact method leading to financial loss was social media,” and more Australians lost money via social media in 2024 than the year prior. These social platforms – where fake identities, bots, and anonymity reign – have become the primary vehicle for scammers targeting consumers and banks alike. However, Media.com offers a credible, secure social networking experience where every user is verified before they can join the network, create content or connect with others. This simple, powerful safeguard drastically reduces the risk of scams, impersonation, and misinformation – protecting users all while stabilizing the financial ecosystem.

“Becoming a sponsor of the ABA’s flagship event was a strategic priority for us given the challenges the banking industry is facing from the misuse of social networks to target consumers,” said James Mawhinney, Media.com founder and CEO. “The ABA and its members have shown great leadership by prioritizing consumer protection, a mission that closely mirrors that of Media.com’s which aims to restore public trust in online information and support the banking sector’s immediate need for solutions that protect consumers from harm. This is why we’ve integrated the same best in class user verification technology on our network that banks use worldwide to verify customers, as we know the solution begins with accountability and transparency – two of the principles embedded in Media.com’s DNA.”

By supporting the adoption of a verified network like Media.com, banks can help shield consumers from the social media-driven scams eroding trust and impacting financial stability. Banks can:

• Create verified profiles on Media.com to provide a safer digital touchpoint for customers
• Promote Media.com to their customers as a safe and trusted alternative to traditional social networks
• Lead a movement toward digital accountability and trust in Australia’s online banking landscape

“A stable, trusted banking environment is critical for the future of Australia,” said Mawhinney. “We’ve built the infrastructure for safer online engagement—one that not only protects consumers, but also helps reduce fraud, improve trust, and ultimately protect their bottom line. This isn’t about competing with social media—it’s about replacing what’s broken with something better.”

This year’s ABA conference focuses on the difficulties and opportunities ahead for financial services, including consumer protection, regulatory shifts, sustainable finance, risk management, and the sector’s broader digital transformation. Media.com’s participation underscores its commitment to helping industries like banking embrace technologies that uphold user trust and safeguard information. Knowing how important consumer protection is, Media.com’s commitment to trust, transparency, and innovation aligns with the values that underpin Australia’s banking sector.

Launched in Beta in late 2024, Media.com is transforming social networking by verifying every user, ensuring all content is traceable to its source. This approach fosters a safer, more accountable digital space—free from fake profiles, bots, and misinformation—designed for people and businesses seeking meaningful, credible engagement online.   With attendance from banking CEOs, regulators, and global thought leaders, the ABA conference offers Media.com a unique opportunity to demonstrate its impact, engage with decision-makers, and align with the collective vision for a stronger, more trusted digital future.