Germany, Romania appoint illegal online content flaggers

Germany and Romania have joined countries which have appointed content flagging organisations under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) aimed at helping national regulators identify online platforms’ illegal behaviour. 

So-called “trusted flaggers” under the DSA are intended to be expert at detecting types of illegal content online – such as hate speech or terrorist content – which they will notify to online platforms. 

So far, six countries – Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Romania and Sweden – have appointed a total of ten of these flagging organisations.

This has risen since July, when only Austria and Finland had made appointments.

Romania’s Organizația Salvați Copiii was approved by the national electronic communications regulator ANCOM, and mostly focuses on protecting young people online. Germany’s DSA regulator BNetzA designated Meldestelle Respect, another group aimed at safeguarding the rights of children online. 

Under the DSA, organisations can apply to become trusted flaggers, who must then be approved by the national regulators: the Digital Services Coordinators (DSC). One of the flaggers’ obligations is to submit an annual report.

The DSA entered into force last February, obliging online platforms to meet transparency and content moderation requirements, among others.

A spokesperson for the Commission told Euronews in July that while there is no deadline for companies to apply for the status, more are expected to be added to the list soon. 

The EU executive has already launched a number of probes against platforms for non compliance, including against X, TikTok and Aliexpress.  

Some investigations, such as additional questions to online retailer Temu, came after complaints filed by consumer organisation BEUC.