Social media users in the European Union will soon have a new avenue to challenge decisions made by platforms regarding the removal or retention of posts and videos that may violate their rules. An 'out of court dispute settlement body' known as the Appeals Center Europe has been certified by Irish regulators to serve as a mediator for content moderation disputes across the 27-nation EU. The center will initially handle cases involving Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
The establishment of the Appeals Center Europe is in line with the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which mandates tech companies and social media platforms to collaborate with dispute settlement bodies and adhere to their decisions. This move aims to provide EU citizens with a mechanism to contest decisions made by major tech companies while balancing free speech rights with the need to mitigate online risks.
The center, based in Dublin, will address appeals from EU users on a wide range of issues, including violence, hate speech, bullying, and harassment. It will handle cases of varying scales, from disputes involving heads of state to local conflicts.
Under the DSA, tech and social media companies operating in Europe are required to enhance their platforms or face substantial fines. The Appeals Center will charge tech companies 95 euros per case and a 5 euro fee from users raising disputes to fund its operations. The decisions made by the center will focus on whether content violates platform rules.
The center plans to hire staff from different EU regions with expertise in various languages and policy areas to manage potentially thousands of cases annually. While the decisions are not binding, users will receive a refund if the center rules in their favor, regardless of the platform's subsequent actions.
The Appeals Center Europe, distinct from Meta's Oversight Board, will operate independently but align in promoting platform accountability, transparency, and user rights. It aims to apply a human rights framework to online speech and ensure fair resolution of content moderation disputes within a 90-day timeframe.
