Bundesnetzagentur first approval for trusted flagger for online platforms in Germany
Year of issue 2024
Date of issue 2024.10.01
The Bundesnetzagentur has today awarded the first trusted flagger status pursuant to the Digital Services Act (DSA). This first approval has gone to the REspect! reporting centre of the youth foundation for Baden-Württemberg, whose main office is in Sersheim. This reporting centre was the first organisation to submit a request for approval to the Digital Services Coordinator (DSC) at the Bundesnetzagentur.
"In approving the first trusted flagger, we are marking the implementation of the European regulations in Germany,"
said Klaus Müller, President of the Bundesnetzagentur and acting head of the DSC. "Platforms are required to respond immediately to notifications from trusted flaggers. Illegal content, hate speech and fake news can be removed very quickly and without any bureaucratic hurdles. This helps to make the internet a safer place."
REspect! concentrates its work as a trusted flagger primarily on social networks and video platforms such as Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Telegram. It focuses on identifying hate speech, terrorist content and other violent content published in German, English or Arabic.
In the approval procedure, the DSC checked the numerous documents that had to be submitted to ensure that the legal requirements for the approval were met. REspect! was able to demonstrate its particular expertise, its independence from online platforms and that the notices it submits to online platforms are specific and objective.
Trusted flaggers for online platforms
Trusted flaggers play a key role in implementing the Digital Services Act, where they are effective in fighting illegal online content. These organisations have gained particular expertise and competence in identifying and reporting illegal content. Platforms are legally required to prioritise the processing of notifications from trusted flaggers and to take immediate action, such as deleting content.
Tasks of the DSC
The DSC is the central coordinating body for enforcement of the DSA in Germany. It monitors service providers and online platforms for compliance with their obligations, acts as a central point for complaints by online users when the DSA has been violated and coordinates cooperation between competent authorities in Germany and the EU.
The DSC certifies out-of-court dispute settlement bodies and trusted flaggers. Upon request the DSC can grant vetted researchers access to data of very large online platforms and search engines.
The Digital Services Act
The DSA sets new, uniform standards for a secure, predictable and trustworthy online environment and protects the rights of online users. The DSA requires digital services and online platforms to be more diligent and transparent and makes it easier to crack down on illegal content and products, hate, agitation and disinformation.
Further information about the DSC is available at www.dsc.bund.de (German web page).