The Federal Network Agency's mediation centre for Instagram, Tiktok and Linkedin is online
If your own account has been blocked on an online network or a reported post has not been deleted, users can now file a complaint with a certified dispute resolution body of the Federal Network Agency. As the Bonn authority announced, users can initially submit complaints about the platforms Tiktok, Instagram, and LinkedIn as of Monday. The dispute resolution body can be reached at www.user-rights.org.
"Out-of-court dispute resolution is a simple and quick way for users to challenge decisions made by online platforms," explained Klaus Müller, President of the Federal Network Agency. "Those who feel unfairly treated on the internet can now have the decisions of the platforms independently reviewed, for example if their own account has been blocked, illegal content is not deleted, or an online platform rejects traders on its marketplace."
At the certified body user-rights.org, this initially only applies to the three platforms Tiktok, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Further platforms are to follow in the coming two years, according to the operators of the website. The costs for dispute resolution are covered by the online platforms, and users may only incur a small protection fee, as announced by the Federal Network Agency.
The Digital Services Coordinator (DSC) based at the Bonn authority is responsible for certification. Online platforms must inform users about the possibility of dispute resolution and cooperate with the responsible body. However, the decisions of the dispute resolution bodies are not legally binding. Users can still go to court at any time.
The dispute resolution bodies are provided for in the European Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA requires online companies to take more active measures against hate speech, misinformation, and counterfeit products, for example by removing such content. In Germany, the Federal Network Agency is responsible for enforcing these rules.
From the announced initiatives, users who feel their accounts have been unfairly blocked or content not deleted can approach the dispute resolution body. The platform costs for dispute resolution are covered by the online platforms, but users may incur a small protection fee.
