How it works

The Dispute Settlement Process: Requirements

To review your case, we require the following:

  • A decision by a social media platform that affects you, such as the removal of a post, suspension of your account, or a decision not to remove reported content.
     
  • Key details, such as the platform’s notification of that decision, a specific case ID (if available), any relevant information and context to fully understand the case.

Scenario 1: Action Taken Against You
If the platform has taken action against you, such as removing a post, we will evaluate whether this decision was legally justified.

Scenario 2: No Action Taken After a Report
If you reported content and the platform informed you that it will leave the content on the platform, we will examine whether the platform was obligated to act.

1

Submit Your Case

Your case can be submitted easily and securely via our online form. Please provide the following:
 

  • Details about the platform and the case.
  • Relevant files (e.g., screenshots, platform notifications).
  • Your contact details.

Once your case is submitted, you will receive a confirmation. We organize the information and prepare it for review in compliance with our Privacy Policies and the GDPR.

2

Preliminary Review by Qualified Lawyers

Our preliminary review combines technology with legal expertise:

  1. Technical Assistance: Our systems structure your input and ensure all necessary data is available. Missing information will be requested.
  2. Human Oversight: Every case is reviewed by a qualified lawyer who assesses the relevance of the information and jurisdiction according to our procedural rules. 
  3. Admissibility Check: We confirm that you're based in an EU member state, that the platform's decision was made within the last six months, that the content is in a language we cover, and that your case falls within our scope of review. More details about our scope of review can be found here.
3

Platform Statement

After completing the preliminary review, we initiate the procedure with the involved social media platform. We request the necessary data for the decision and ask for a statement.

If the platform provides a substantive response regarding the procedure, we will forward the corresponding reply to you. Thus, we ensure that both parties are granted the right to be heard. The deadline is 7 days in each case and can be extended by up to 14 days.

4

Case Examination

The scope of our review depends on your case: 

  • If a platform took action against you, we assess whether that action was justified under the relevant community standards or law. 
  • If you reported content, we assess whether the content violates the relevant community standards or law. 
  • Where relevant, we also consider the impact of the platform's decision on fundamental rights. 

User Rights can only review certain community standards and legal provisions. You can find the full overview here.

5

Decision

We send our final review to you and to the platform concerned. The decision is not binding. However, platforms are required to cooperate and thoroughly assess whether there is any valid reason not to implement it. 

The platform has 7 days to inform User Rights whether:

  • it has implemented the decision; or
  • it has decided not to implement the decision and explain its reasons.

Why This Procedure?

  • Dispute Resolution: A fair and lawful process developed for both parties.
  • Expertise: Legal decisions are made exclusively by qualified legal professionals.
  • Efficiency: Technical support ensures efficient and precise case handling.
  • Independence: Our dispute settlement body is independent and impartial, funded solely through the fees we charge.
  • Transparency: Every decision is clearly documented and easy to understand.

Our approach provides a fast and thorough process to give you the best possible support.
 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)