Apply to become a trusted verifier

We want the vast majority of people on mu to be verified. We cannot do that directly: we do not have the capacity to verify accounts individually, and a central desk deciding who is real is exactly the model we think is broken. What works is organizations, professional groups and networks verifying their own communities, because they are the ones who actually know their people.

If you run or belong to an organization or network that could verify its community, this form is for you. Media organizations, professional bodies, employers, universities, political parties, sports organizations and associations, civil society groups, community networks: all are welcome. And if you are an individual who wants to be verified, the best thing you can do is identify a group you belong to and encourage them to apply.

One thing we need from every verifier: a chain of credibility. We have to be able to stand behind every organization we designate. Well-known organizations we can check directly, through their domain and public record. Smaller and lesser-known groups are just as welcome, but we need a link in the chain: an existing trusted verifier, or someone who is already verified, who can vouch for you.

Being a verifier is also an act of stewardship. Trusted verifiers are the anchors of their communities on the open social web, and we look to them to be ambassadors for the Atmosphere and for Eurosky: welcoming their members, helping newcomers find their feet, and setting the tone for what a healthier social web looks like. If that sounds like a role your organization would be proud of, we would love to hear from you.

We know this is not ideal. Building a network of trust bit by bit is slower than a verify-me button. But it is the only way the trust means something, and the good news is that the more the network grows, the faster it can grow: every new verifier extends the chain of credibility to communities we could not reach before.

Verifiers are volunteers and we onboard in batches, so please allow up to two weeks for a response. Read how verification works on mu before applying.