Web data is the fundamental fuel powering the AI revolution, financial markets, and enterprise strategy. Yet, the proxy and web data collection industry is plagued by bad actors, deceptive proxy SDKs, non-consensual residential networks, hidden botnets, and vendors operating in the shadows.
If you are buying data or proxy infrastructure from an unverified vendor, you are taking on massive legal, operational, and reputational risk. At Bright Data, we refuse to let marketing claims replace proof. We have always set the benchmark for ethical data collection, and we continue to raise it.
I am proud to share that Bright Data has officially completed its second consecutive Compliance and Ethics Audit, conducted by PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers).
Let me be direct: We are the ONLY company in our entire industry doing this.
While others hide behind self-written “ethical policies” and unverified promises, we handed our entire system, infrastructure, and compliance controls over to an independent Big Four auditing firm to test and verify their design and operational effectiveness over a full year period.
We Audited Our Entire Operating Environment:
- 100% Consensual SDK Sourcing: Verified that every single device in our rotating proxy network is powered by active, informed user opt-in.
- Strict KYC & Access Restrictions: Mandatory Know Your Customer reviews for network access, blocking default authentication/logins, and blocking restricted and high risk domains.
- Site Health & Infrastructure Protection: Automated real-time traffic throttling to protect target website stability and prevent server degradation.
- Data Subject Rights & GDPR Compliance: Active identification, notification mechanisms, and deletion/opt-out capabilities for personal data within pre-collected datasets.
The Bottom Line for Enterprise Buyers
Working with an un-audited proxy or web scraping vendor is no longer just a technical oversight, it’s an unacceptable enterprise vulnerability. In an era where regulator scrutiny over data sourcing, residential proxies, and consent is at an all-time high, unverified vendors are liability bombs waiting to go off.
Real compliance isn’t self-declared. It is verified by independent, world-class auditors.We set the standard yesterday, we hold the standard today, and we will continue to lead the way tomorrow.
To our partners and customers: Demand total transparency from your data pipeline. Ask your vendors for their 3rd-party independent audit report.
Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer
14 years experience
Rony Shalit is an experienced professional with a focus on Risk Management, Compliance, Internal Controls, and Internal Audit processes. Currently serving as Chief Compliance and Ethics at Brightdata, the world’s leading web data collection platform.
