Digital Services Act illegal content notice (template)
Platforms operating in the EU must offer an easy way to report illegal content under the DSA and must explain their decisions.
What a notice needs
- A sufficiently substantiated explanation of why the content is illegal
- The exact URL(s)
- Your name and email (except for certain offences)
- A statement that the notice is accurate and complete, made in good faith
Template
Notice of illegal content (Article 16 DSA)
Content: [exact URL(s)]
Why it is illegal: [e.g. it discloses my home address and phone number without consent, contrary to the GDPR / it contains false statements of fact about me that are defamatory under (country) law: quote them and explain why they are false].
Name: [ ] Email: [ ]
I confirm in good faith that the information and allegations in this notice are accurate and complete.Afterwards
The platform must tell you its decision and reasons. You can challenge it through the platform's internal complaint system and certified out-of-court dispute settlement bodies.
General information, not legal advice. In real cases we work alongside lawyers who specialise in digital rights.
Frequently asked questions
Can I file from outside the EU?
The mechanism covers services offered in the EU; if the content is accessible there and illegal under an EU member state's law, a notice can be filed.