Navigating the Secure Web
Online hostility, distressing messages, and menacing conduct on digital platforms: a guide to filing reports
Bonn (dpa/tmn) - Navigating the online landscape can be tricky, from hate speech on social media to counterfeit products on marketplaces, and consumer rights violations on web platforms. If you come across potentially illegal activities online, who do you report it to?
Enter Trusted Flaggers. These certified bodies offer a solution by acting as your go-to when it comes to reporting such issues. Just fill out their online form, and they'll investigate the matter and pass it on to the relevant platform or service.
Trusted Flaggers Take Action
First introduced by the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), Trusted Flaggers are essentially credible informants. They've been included in the DSA to make online platforms more transparent and responsible in their content and product handling.
So why not go straight to the platform and report the illegal content yourself? There's a compelling reason: When a report comes from a recognized Trusted Flagger, platform operators are obligated to prioritize it and take immediate action. This could mean removing content or otherwise addressing the issue, according to the Federal Network Agency, which certifies Trusted Flaggers in Germany.
New Certified Bodies Join the Fight
In the past, only Respect (from the Baden-Württemberg Youth Foundation) specialized in hate speech and harassment, was certified. However, a few more bodies have since been given the green light:
- Hateaid, focusing on digital violence, fraud, and deception, primarily on social media platforms.
- Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (vzbv), concentrating on online marketplaces and social media platforms, covering consumer rights, product safety, online trading, and fraud.
- Bundesverband Onlinehandel (BVOH), which is known for its work in intellectual property protection and unfair competition, particularly on online marketplaces. They mainly accept reports from their members, often involving plagiarism allegations or suspected competition violations.
When Platforms Don't Act, They Must Justify
Neither the Federal Network Agency nor Trusted Flaggers remove content or order its removal. It's up to the platform or service to decide whether to delete an offer or content. If platforms decide against removing content, they must provide a clear explanation for their decision.
The decision or measures taken by a platform can be reviewed if necessary, through a complaint by the person who made the report or the affected party, through an out-of-court dispute resolution body, or through the courts.
The final determination of whether content is illegal and should be removed—or whether it was removed correctly (or not)—rests with the courts.
For more detailed information about the Trusted Flaggers certified by the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) in Germany, their specific focus areas, and their role in reporting suspected illegal content online, consult official communications and reliable news sources. Keep in mind that as of June 2025, other certified Trusted Flaggers include BVOH, HateAid, vzbv, in addition to Respect. They work on various areas such as commercial legal protection, digital violence, and consumer rights, respectively. Each is required to publish annual reports detailing their activities, platforms affected, and measures taken by the platforms. The Trusted Flagger status can be revoked if an organization no longer meets the criteria for certification. To find out more, check out the latest press releases from Bundesnetzagentur, visit organization websites such as BVOH, HateAid, and vzbv, or consult resources from the EU’s Digital Services Coordinators page.
- In addition to Respect, certified Trusted Flaggers in business, technology, and finance now include organizations such as Hateaid, Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (vzbv), and Bundesverband Onlinehandel (BVOH).
- Hateaid, among the new Trusted Flaggers, primarily focuses on digital violence, fraud, and deception, particularly on social media platforms, while the Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (vzbv) deals with consumer rights, product safety, online trading, and fraud on online marketplaces and social media platforms.
