The Appeals Centre Europe, a Dublin-based independent body handling social media disputes, has announced that it will now hear appeals related to Instagram, broadening its scope beyond Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.
Established in November 2024 and operational since late January, the Centre provides an alternative route for users across Ireland and the European Union to challenge decisions made by social media platforms — particularly around content moderation issues such as the removal of posts or account suspensions.
With its latest move, the Centre will be taking on complaints related to Instagram content decisions, offering users a new channel to seek redress under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), a sweeping legislative framework aimed at improving online safety and platform accountability.
Certified by Ireland’s media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, as an official out-of-court dispute settlement (ODS) body, the Centre has already attracted significant interest. As of March, it had received more than 1,500 appeals from users across the EU. The most common complaints involved alleged violations of platform rules around adult nudity, bullying and harassment, and restrictions related to goods and services such as drugs and alcohol.
While decisions made by the Appeals Centre are currently non-binding, the organisation says that some platforms are beginning to take its findings into account. In particular, Meta — parent company of both Facebook and Instagram — has reportedly begun implementing the Centre’s decisions. Further details are expected in the Centre’s first transparency report, due to be published by mid-2025.
The Centre was initially funded by a one-time grant from the Meta Oversight Board Trust, but insists it operates independently. Ongoing operations will be financed through fees charged to social media platforms for each case they are involved in. In the future, individuals submitting disputes will be asked to pay a nominal fee of €5, which will be refunded if the decision goes in their favour.
By offering a quicker, more accessible alternative to legal action, the Centre aims to enhance accountability among social media companies and empower users to contest decisions that affect their online presence.
“We want to ensure people have a fair, transparent and cost-effective way to challenge decisions that impact their expression and engagement online,” a spokesperson said.
