Staying Safe Online: Dealing with Hate, Harassment, and other Online Threats: How and Where to Report
Online aggression, abusive behavior, and menaces in digital spaces: means to report and address them
If you stumble upon hate filled posts, bullying, fraudulent products, or blatant violations of consumer rights on the web, don't just sit back - take action. It's about passing the right information to the right people.
From offensive content on social media sites to shady deals on online marketplaces and deceptive practices concerning consumer rights on various platforms, reporting suspicious activities online is crucial. But where should you point the finger?
Certified entities, referred to as Trusted Flaggers, are a reliable choice. Submit a report through their online form, and they'll investigate the matter, potentially forwarding it to the relevant platform or service.
Trusted Flaggers: the Backbone of Digital Safety
Trusted Flaggers, essentially reliable informants, are a product of EU law on digital markets, often known as the Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA aims to make online platforms handle content and products more transparently and responsibly.
While you might think of reporting content directly to the respective platform, there's a solid reason not to: if a report of suspected illegal content comes from a recognized Trusted Flagger, the operator of the respective platform must treat it as a priority.
A Growing Circle of Trusted Flaggers
Until recently, only Respect, specializing in hate and harassment matters, was certified. But the wheel has taken a spin, and the Federal Network Agency has approved three more trustworthy informants:
- Hate aid, focusing on digital violence, fraud, and deception, particularly on social media platforms.
- vzbv, concentrating on online marketplaces and social media platforms regarding consumer rights, product safety, online trading, and fraud.
- BVOH, focusing on intellectual property protection and unfair competition, particularly on online marketplaces. The association accepts reports primarily from its members, commonly involving plagiarism allegations or suspected competition violations.
When Platforms Refuse to Act, they Have to Explain Why
Neither the Federal Network Agency nor the Trusted Flaggers remove content or order its removal. The respective platform or service decides whether to delete an offer or content. If a platform decides not to remove content, they must explain their decision.
Digging Deeper
More Insights "Online Violence Prevention" Buschmann cracks down on online hate with account suspensions
The decision or measures taken by a platform can always be reviewed by a complaint from the reporter or affected party to the platform itself, through an out-of-court dispute resolution body, or through the courts. The final assessment of whether content is illegal and must be removed, or was rightly (not) removed, lies with the courts.
Source: ntv.de, awi/dpa
- Marco Buschmann
- Federal Ministry of Justice
- Traffic Light Coalition
- Social Networks
- Hate Comments
- Network Enforcement Act
- Bullying
- IT Security
- Legal Issues
- Social Media
In the context of the Digital Services Act (DSA), various entities known as Trusted Flaggers, including Respect, Hate aid, vzbv, and BVOH, have been certified to investigate and report suspicious activities online related to hate and harassment, digital violence, consumer rights, product safety, online trading, fraud, and intellectual property protection. If a platform refuses to remove content reported by a Trusted Flagger, they must explain their decision, and the final assessment of whether the content should be removed lies with the courts.
Politicians, such as Marco Buschmann from the Federal Ministry of Justice, are working towards implementing measures to combat online hate, bullying, and violence through account suspensions and the Network Enforcement Act. Other relevant topics in the digital space include legal issues, IT security, social networks, and social media.
