The rights of an online platform user
There are plenty of services on the internet that store or publish content created by users in the service. Online platforms are a typical example of these services. This page describes the regulations on online platform users valid as of 17 February 2024, when the Digital Services Act (DSA) enters into force. For platform giants, the regulations already entered into force in the summer of 2023.
Right to submit a notice about illegal content
If you find content, products or services online that you suspect of being illegal, you have the right to notify the provider of the service, meaning the online platform or hosting service, of your observations. The service provider must have a method for receiving notices that is easy to use.
You have the right to receive the following from the service provider:
- Confirmation of receiving the notice, if you have included your contact information in the notice.
- Information about what kind of a decision the service provider has made due to your notice.
- Information on whether automated means have been used in the decision-making or the processing of your notice.
If you are dissatisfied with the decision, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the service provider. The online platform must provide you with an effective internal complaint handling system that is free of charge for the purpose.
What kind of content is illegal?
Illegality is defined by the national or EU legislation. Traficom cannot comment on illegality. In legislation, incitement to terrorism, illegal hate speech, child sexual abuse material and infringement of intellectual property rights, among other things, have been defined as illegal content.
Was the problem not solved with the service provider?
If you have contacted the service provider but had problems with the service provider’s procedure, you can contact the supervisory authority. The main supervisor of the Digital Services Act (DSA) is Traficom, but certain obligations are supervised by the Consumer Ombudsman and the Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman.
Content provider’s rights and obligations
When you provide content for an online service, you should always learn about the terms and conditions of the service and follow them. In addition, you should be aware of the rights and obligations of a content provider in a broader context. Here we will discuss the requirements in accordance with the DSA, which are valid as of 17 February 2024. For platform giants, the regulations already entered into force in the summer of 2023.
Who is a content provider?
In this context, a content provider refers to a natural or legal person such as a company or other entity that uses the intermediary services defined in the DSA, i.e. storage services or online platforms in particular, in order to make information or content accessible to others. Content providers may include, for instance:
- private individuals who publish their own content such as photographs or videos on social media services, update their own profile or comment on the content of others.
- companies that advertise or sell their products or services on social media services or an external online marketplace.