Online Aggression, Intimidation, and Cyber threats: Learning How to File Complaints
When it comes to suspicious posts on social media, shady goods sold online, or violations of consumer rights on online platforms, raise the alarm if you spot anything fishy. But who do you report it to?
Enter Trusted Flaggers. These badass bodies are the go-to for such reports. Submit your concerns through their online forms, and they'll dive into the investigation, possibly passing the details to the relevant platform or service.
Trusted Flaggers: Priority Handlers
These guys, also known as 'trusted providers', are a result of the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA). The aim is to make online platforms more transparent and responsible when it comes to content and products.
So why not report directly to the platform? Here's the kicker: If a report of illegal content comes from a certified Trusted Flagger, the platform operator must treat it like the Kool-Aid Man busting through a wall—take swift action such as deleting content [4].
Certified Reporting Bodies Multiplied
The Respect reporting body, known for handling hate and harassment, has been the only certified Trusted Flagger so far. But the game has changed. The Federal Network Agency has approved three more trusted providers:
- Hateaid, fighting against digital violence, fraud, and deception on social media.
- vzbv, focusing on consumer rights, product safety, online trading, and fraud on all platforms.
- BVOH, specializing in intellectual property and unfair competition on online marketplaces.
The BVOH mainly handles reports from its members, often dealing with plagiarism allegations or suspected competition violations [4].
Platforms Must Justify Their Decisions
Neither the Federal Network Agency nor the Trusted Flaggers remove content or force its removal. The responsibility lies with the platform or service to decide whether to delete an offer or content. If they don't remove it, they need to explain why [4].
The decision or actions taken by a platform can be reviewed at any time through a complaint to the platform, an out-of-court dispute resolution body, or the courts [4]. Ultimately, the courts decide whether the content should be removed or the removal was justified.
[1] https://www.bvb-online.de/[2] https://www.secj.de/[3] https://datprotection.com/resources/digital-marketing/trusted-flaggers-eu/[4] https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/en/service/trusted-flagger/342824
- Trusted Flaggers, a result of the EU's Digital Services Act, are the primary contacts for reporting suspicious posts, illicit goods, and violations of consumer rights online. They serve as priority handlers and investigate the concerns submitted through their online forms.
- In addition to the existing reporting body, Respect, which handles hate and harassment, the Federal Network Agency has recently certified three more Trusted Flaggers: Hateaid, fighting against digital violence and deception; vzbv, focused on consumer rights, product safety, online trading, and fraud on all platforms; and BVOH, specializing in intellectual property and unfair competition on online marketplaces.
