Service to settle online-content disputes
Impress Dispute Resolutions (IDR) has launched a dispute-settlement process to resolve complaints about illegal online content, which will open next week.
Coimisiún na Meán (CnaM) certified IDR as an out-of-court dispute-settlement (ODS) body under the Digital Services Act (DSA) earlier this year.
IDR says that its service, which is available from 8 September, provides a free, independent mechanism for users to contest harmful content and platform decisions.
It will deal with complaints about social media linked to issues such as deepfakes and privacy violations, while it will also examine account-suspension and demonetisation complaints on illegal-content grounds.
Redress
IDR says that it seeks to provide online users with more opportunity for redress and work with platforms to make being online a safer experience.
Its scheme is available to users in Ireland and the EU and covers major platforms – including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.
Complaints will be managed through Impress’s Dublin subsidiary, Impress Dispute Resolution Services. Cases will be decided under Irish law.
The service is free to users, with costs borne by the platforms subject to complaints, for matters found in the user’s favour.
While IDR’s decisions are non-binding, platforms are required under EU law to engage with ODS services in good faith.
Aggregated data
IDR adds that aggregated data from every decision it makes will be used to support enforcement of the DSA by the European Commission.
IDR is a subsidiary of independent British press regulator Impress.
“When your identity is deepfaked or your account is wrongly banned, it’s not just frustrating – it can be devastating,” said IDR co-founder Gia Thom.
“For the first time, individual people can challenge illegal content decisions without cost, complexity, or fear,” she added.