JUDGE AND PARTY NO MORE.

Online platforms make plenty of moderation mistakes.

We are yet to meet someone happy with how content moderation is done on social media. Content gets taken down unfairly. Content remains up despite being illegal or in violation of the platform's own guidelines. The rules are not the same for everyone: influential accounts appear to operate with near-immunity, while smaller users others are subject to moderation decisions that look inconsistent at best and arbitrary at worst. 

The EU's Digital Services Act evens the playing field for users in disputes with online platforms.

Platforms are both judge and party to all moderation decisions. As businesses, their interests do not lay in fairness and due process but in minimizing costs and trouble. Although national courts can theoretically step in and order a platform to fix mistakes, few people file a lawsuit over a tweet.

The DSA (Article 21) changes this by creating special independent review bodies (quasi courts) that review moderation decisions and rule independently on each case brought to them. Platforms are heavily encouraged to abide by these bodies' decisions or face the risk of large fines.

Vigilia can represent users in front of these arbitration bodies.

As an EU non-profit active in tech, Vigilia is authorized to represent users and submit claims on their behalf.

STEP 1: YOU LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE UNHAPPY ABOUT SOMETHING BIG TECH DID (OR DID NOT DO)

If you are an individual or organization based in Europe and you see something wrong on any platform, send us a quick email.

The following count as "something wrong":

• A social media platform removed your content. Had a post removed for showing too much skin, saying something that Mr. Musk didn't like or got called out on any other violation that seems unfair ? Our job is to try to get the post reinstated and the platform to receive a penalty for it.
  
  Please note that we will not take on obviously-infringing cases. If you posted blatantly illegal content, we are not able and willing to help you.
• A social media platform did not remove content. The internet is not a pretty place. Some content is illegal (think child abuse material, incitement to violence, or encouraging), other is lawful but awful. If you see it, let us know !

STEP 2: YOU LET US HANDLE IT

We have been working in the field for a long time: we know platforms' moderation policies, what is illegal in the various countries of the EU, and where to get redress.

We take your case to those that have the best chance of helping you solve it. It usually takes around a month.

STEP 3: YOU (HOPEFULLY) BASK IN THE GLORY OF YOUR WIN

If the arbitration body rules in our favor, great ! In over 98% of cases, the platform follows the arbitration body's recommendation (it doesn't legally have to implement those decisions, but not doing it exposes the platform to potentially large fines). Justice is served, the platform gets a black mark in its moderation record and has to pay the arbitration body and Vigilia a few hundred euros for our trouble.
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If the arbitration body does not rule in our favor, too bad ! The platform still has to pay the arbitration body for its trouble, which is still resources that leave Big Tech to stay in Europe. Neither you nor Vigilia has to pay anything.

0 € for you !

If the arbitration body rules in your favour, Vigilia will ask the platform to reimburse the costs of representation. Don't worry, they'll be fine, they can use the money they don't pay in taxes to cover it.