Ireland launches new service to challenge online content decisions

The Irish-based service, which is expected to handle complaints involving hate speech, misinformation, deepfakes and the sharing of non-consensual images, is a "significant development" in content moderation across the EU, according to experts at Pinsent Masons.

Impress Dispute Resolution Services (IDR), a subsidiary of the UK press regulator Impress, began operating on 8 September under the EU Digital Services Act (DSA). Certified by Ireland's media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, IDR has been authorised to review disputes concerning allegedly illegal online content published on social media and content-sharing platforms for the next five years.

While IDR's rulings are not legally binding, online platforms are required under the DSA to engage with the process in good faith. Case decision makers will include independent Irish legal experts appointed through the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. IDRis Ireland's second certified out of court dispute settlement (ODS) body alongside the Appeals Centre Europe (ACE), which has operated since 2024 and covers all large social media platforms.
Lisa Carty, a disputes expert at Pinsent Masons, said: “The launch of IDR marks a significant development in the EU's digital enforcement landscape.”
“With Ireland serving as the EU regulatory home for many of the world's largest online platforms, the arrival of a second certified ODS body, combined with rapidly growing complaint volumes at ACE, signals the focus on addressing content moderation complaints efficiently, and out of court,” she said.

Between April 2025 and March 2026, ACE received more than 24,000 disputes across the EU, with over half deemed eligible for review. In cases where content could be examined, ACE disagreed with platform decisions in 59% of matters, overturning removals in 52% of cases and finding against platforms in 70% of hate speech disputes.

Sarah Twohig, an expert in commercial and regulatory disputes at Pinsent Masons, said: “The launch of IDR is likely to result in more complaints being ventilated against digital platforms, which face strict reporting obligations under the DSA.”

“Platforms that lose ODS cases must pay dispute resolution costs and reimburse users' reasonable expenses,” she said.

“Breaches of the DSA can also attract fines of up to 6% of a company's global annual turnover.”