TikTok didn't remove a video? User Rights can help

How to Challenge TikTok Refusal to Remove a Video

Whenever you encounter a TikTok video that targets a community you're part of with hate speech or misleading people into a scam or spreads dangerous misinformation - you can report it. However, TikTok does not always react or align with your request to remove the video from its platform.

There are several ways to challenge TikTok's decision, including filing a further report directly with TikTok or taking legal action in court. Since the Digital Services Act (DSA) came into force, you now have an additional option: you can contact a certified out-of-court dispute resolution body such as User Rights. Through this procedure, you can quickly, easily, and free of charge have your case reviewed to determine whether the video should have been removed — including an assessment by our independent legal experts.

You can bring a case to User Rights in two situations:

TikTok rejected your report. You flagged a video as harmful or illegal, TikTok reviewed it and decided to leave it up. You disagree with that decision.
TikTok did not respond. You reported a video and received no decision within seven days. Under the DSA, that silence already entitles you to escalate.

In both cases, you are not required to take any further steps with TikTok before coming to us. Your initial report to the platform is enough. This guide explains how to prepare your case and submit your complaint, step by step.

1. Go through TikTok Internal Reporting Process 2. Secure Your Evidence 3. Explain Why You Disagree and Submit Your Case 4. Check Your Emails Regularly

1. Go through TikTok Internal Reporting Process

Before coming to User Rights, you need to have reported the content directly to TikTok.

How to report a video on TikTok:

Tap the "Share" icon
Select "Report"
Choose the category that best fits and confirm. You can report content for violating TikTok's community guidelines or because you believe it is illegal.

Not sure how the reporting process works in practice? The Irish regulator Coimisiún na Meán has published a short explainer video walking through how to report illegal and harmful content on TikTok: Watch the video →

💡 Not sure which category to choose? Here are common situations:

A video targets you or a group you belong to with slurs, dehumanising comparisons, or calls for violence → Hate speech
A video repeatedly insults your or someone else's physical attributes, threatens, doxes, or makes sexual or abusive comments → Harassment and bullying
A video promotes a fake giveaway, impersonates a brand, or encourages people to send money → Scam or fraud
A video spreads demonstrably false claims about health, elections, or public safety → Misinformation
Content that may be criminal under national law (e.g. incitement to hatred, stalking, defamation) → Illegal content

Still not sure which category to choose? Don't worry, it's not all on you.

You don't need to get the exact rule or law right. If you report something as hate speech but it's actually harassment, we'll still review it under all relevant guidelines. The same goes for legal issues: if you flag content under one law (e.g. defamation under German Criminal Code), but it falls under another, we'll catch that too.

Wait 7 days

After reporting, give TikTok up to 7 days to respond. If TikTok rejects your report or does not respond within that window, you can file a complaint with User Rights. You are not required to go through TikTok's internal appeal mechanism a second time before contacting us — your initial report to the platform is sufficient.

Note: User Rights cannot review your case if the reported video contains the sexual abuse or exploitation of children.

2. Secure Your Evidence

To submit your case through our free procedure, you must provide certain information and evidence via our online form. In particular, we need the URL or the downloaded file of the reported video and proof you reported it. Without the required evidence*, we might not be able to accept your case.

Important: We can only process your case if the reporting occurred within the last six months.

💡 Tip: For our reviewers to understand the full context, don't upload a screenshot of the video but share the URL or better the video file.

Please upload the following

Copy URL from your browser, or tap Share → Copy link in the app

Showing the date and the category you selected

A screenshot of the notification or email confirming the content will not be removed

Such as a government-issued ID or passport or driving license

Especially if the content may be edited or deleted by the poster

For example, a pattern of similar content from the same account

3. Explain Why You Disagree and Submit Your Case

Once you have gathered your evidence, use our online form to submit your complaint. In the free-text field, describe what the video contains, why you believe it is harmful or illegal, and what impact it has had on you or others. The more context you provide, the better our reviewers can assess your case.

You don't need to be a legal expert. Our case reviewers will examine the content against all applicable TikTok guidelines or against relevant legal provisions — not just the one you cited when you first reported it.

Note: One report per submission. If you are reporting multiple videos or comments, you must submit a separate complaint for each one. We review each piece of content separately and cannot process combined procedures.

SUBMIT A CASE

Submit your case for any of the following platforms

4. Check Your Emails Regularly

Throughout the entire procedure, we will keep you informed by email. If we require additional information or further evidence, we will contact you directly.

Please also check your spam folder regularly so you do not miss any important messages from us.

We are required to issue a decision within a maximum of 90 days. In highly complex cases, processing may take up to 180 days. As soon as new information becomes available, we will inform you immediately.

What Happens After I Submit My Case?

After you submit your complaint via our online form, we review your information and forward the case to TikTok. The platform is then given the opportunity to respond and provide further justification for its decision. TikTok typically has seven days to respond, with a possible extension of up to 14 days.

User Rights then examines whether the reported content violates TikTok's community guidelines and, where relevant, whether it breaches applicable law. We assess the content thoroughly — against all relevant guidelines, not only the one you originally cited. We also take into account the requirements of the Digital Services Act: your fundamental rights as a user, as well as the platform's rights.

Our procedure is completely free of charge. Our decisions are not binding in the same way as court judgments, but TikTok is required under the DSA to examine our decisions in good faith and inform us whether it will implement them.

Please note: in addition to proceedings with User Rights, you may at any time pursue legal action or file a complaint with the competent Digital Services Coordinator. Find your Digital Services Coordinator here.

FAQ How to Challenge TikTok Refusal to Remove a Video

TikTok reviews reported content using both automated systems and human moderators — which means errors can and do occur. Common reasons a report gets rejected include missing context (for example, satire, irony, or commentary on sensitive topics being misread as neutral), insufficient information in the original report, or the content falling just below the threshold the platform applies. If you believe TikTok's decision was wrong, you can submit a free procedure with User Rights and we will assess whether the content should have been removed.

You should secure: the URL of the reported video, a screenshot of your report confirmation showing the date and category selected, and a screenshot of TikTok's response if one was received. It is also useful to save additional screenshots of the video or comments in case the content is later edited or deleted by the poster. If you are reporting someone impersonating you, we might ask for a proof of identity.

Yes. A lawyer representing a person affected by the video can submit a complaint on their client's behalf. We will ask for a power of attorney. Journalists, activists, NGOs, and organisations reporting in the public interest can also submit a complaint directly, as can certified trusted flaggers under Article 22 of the Digital Services Act. You do not need to be the direct target of the content to bring a case.

Yes we do. Please contact us at info@user-rights.org rather than using the standard online form.

Our decisions are not binding in the same way as court judgments, but TikTok is required under the DSA to examine our decisions in good faith and inform us whether it will implement them. If the decision is not implemented, you can pursue legal action or contact your Digital Services Coordinator. Find your Digital Services Coordinator here.