You can have the most robust policies, deploy smart AI tools, and have top-level security in place. But if your texts are not clear, honest, or legally correct, you’re still at risk. And that’s exactly where digital compliance comes into play.
It may sound like something for legal or IT professionals, but digital compliance impacts everyone in your organization. From recruitment to marketing, from customer service to HR. And especially now that AI is playing a greater role in communication and decision-making, it’s something your organization can’t afford to ignore.
Let’s unpack this properly.
What is digital compliance?
Simply put, digital compliance means that everything you do and communicate online aligns with legislation, as well as with your internal policies and values.
Dat gaat dus niet alleen over technologie, maar ook over taal, transparantie, privacy, toegankelijkheid, inclusie en ethiek.
It touches on areas like:
- The GDPR
- The upcoming EU AI Act
- Accessibility guidelines (such as WCAG)
- Labor law (like language used in job postings)
- Consumer protection laws
- And even the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), if you have to report on social responsibility
So digital compliance is not a one-time checkbox. It’s an ongoing responsibility.
And what about AI?
AI brings new possibilities as well as new risks. Many companies are already using AI for:
- Writing job ads or customer emails
- Analyzing applications
- Chatbots for customer service
- Personalizing content
- Automated decision-making (e.g. discount eligibility)
All of these are useful applications, but… what if the output is inaccurate? What if the model contains bias? What if the AI promises something you can’t deliver?
Then AI becomes a compliance issue.
The AI Act will soon require explainability, transparency, and human oversight for “high-risk AI.” Even if you purchase the technology from a third party, you’re still responsible for how it is used.
In other words, if AI says something on behalf of your organization, it must be correct, legally and morally.
The role of text in digital compliance
Perhaps the most underestimated part of compliance is your language use.
Every text you publish or send must meet certain standards. For example:
- Legal accuracy (think contracts, terms, privacy statements)
- Inclusive language (job ads that don’t exclude anyone)
- Clarity (so customers understand what they’re agreeing to)
- Consistency (your AI should not contradict your policies)
Especially in large organizations, where dozens of people write and publish, things can quickly get out of hand. And if AI starts generating texts too? You need an additional layer of control and alignment.
Text is not a side issue. It’s your most visible compliance risk.
How can you identify risks in your organization?
Many companies think, “We have policies, so we’re fine.” But policies aren’t the same as practice. Questions you and your team can ask yourselves:
- Do all AI users receive enough training on risks and responsibilities?
- Are you certain your job ads contain no discriminatory terms?
- Are automatically generated texts still reviewed before publication?
- Do your customers understand your contracts, emails, or web content?
- Are your communications accessible to people with disabilities or lower literacy levels?
If you can’t confidently answer “yes” to all of these, it’s time to take a closer look at your digital compliance.
Checklist: how compliant is your communication and AI use?
Use this checklist as a starting point:
- We have a current AI policy and clear responsibilities
- AI tools are only used with predefined guidelines
- Automatically generated content is checked for inclusion, clarity, and legality
- Our job ads are bias-free and legally compliant
- We follow readability standards for external communication
- Internal and external texts align with privacy and data policies
- Employees are trained in digital ethics and language awareness
How many boxes can you check?
How Textmetrics supports you
At Textmetrics, we work every day on technology that makes language smarter and safer. Our software:
- Detects risky terms (discrimination, ambiguity, legal pitfalls)
- Automatically checks whether text complies with your policies and legislation
- Applies AI within parameters you define
- Helps organizations deliver consistent, inclusive, and compliant communication at scale
Whether you use AI for recruitment, web copy, or customer service, we make sure it’s right.
Ready for a digital compliance check?
Want to know where your organization stands in terms of digital compliance in text and AI? We’d be happy to help.
Schedule a no-obligation session with one of our specialists. We’ll identify risks, offer practical advice, and show how Textmetrics can help make your language and technology safer, more inclusive, and more transparent.