---
title: Import audiences without disqualify events
slug: data-platform/docs/external-systems-that-cant-produce-disqualify-events
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-08-10T12:05:15.000Z
---

For integrations with external systems that can only compute the current set of users in an audience and are unable to generate [disqualify events](docId\:LnFho0HH3GLOmed5WLRYd), Optimizely Data Platform (ODP) offers a feature that automatically manages audience membership updates.

Each time you recompute the audience, you can import the updated user list to ODP. ODP automatically compares it with the previously imported audience and disqualifies any users who are no longer part of it.

When a new import is processed, ODP computes the difference between the new and previous audience members and performs the following actions:

- Generates [qualify events](docId\:LnFho0HH3GLOmed5WLRYd) for users newly added to the audience.
- Generates [disqualify events](docId\:LnFho0HH3GLOmed5WLRYd) for users removed from the audience.

# Import using Amazon S3

Follow these steps to import external audience data using Amazon S3:

1. [Generate Amazon S3 credentials](docId:6Y161Xczr3LP1as_tSc-Q).
2. [Locate your access keys and bucket URLs](docId:6Y161Xczr3LP1as_tSc-Q).
3. [Create a new external audience in ODP](docId\:LnFho0HH3GLOmed5WLRYd).
4. Create a g-zip compressed CSV file containing the current audience members.

**CSV file requirements**

- You must import each external audience in its own CSV file.
- The file name must match the ODP audience ID used when you created the audience. For example, if the ODP audience ID is `external_audience_1`, the file name must be `external_audience_1.csv.gz`.
- The CSV file must include a header with the following fields:
  - `type`
  - `action`
  - `audience_id`
  - `ts`
- The header must also include a single high-confidence identifier like a [custom external identifier](docId\:zofYSXRfkDa-2L5Umjfmy) that you configured in your ODP instance.

**Example CSV file contents**

This example assumes a custom external identifier named `a_high_confidence_identifier` and an external audience with audience\_id `external_audience_1` was configured in an ODP instance.

```javascript
type,action,a_high_confidence_identifier,audience_id,ts
passthrough,qualify,user_1,external_audience_1,1748851070
passthrough,qualify,user_2,external_audience_1,1748851070
```

**Importing from Amazon S3**

To [import the CSV file from Amazon S3 to ODP using the command line](docId:6Y161Xczr3LP1as_tSc-Q), copy the file into the `audience-diffs` folder in your [import bucket](docId:6Y161Xczr3LP1as_tSc-Q):

```shell
aws s3 cp external_audience_1.csv.gz s3://zaius-incoming/<your tracker ID>/audience-diffs --sse
```

## Error handling

To verify import status or troubleshoot issues, complete the following:

1. Log in to ODP.
2. Go to **Account Settings > Activity Log**.
3. Select the **Audience Diffs** category to view the status of imports. From there, you can review successful uploads and any associated error messages.