Ireland investigates X over DSA compliance on user appeals and complaints

Ireland’s Coimisiún na Meán has opened a Digital Services Act (DSA) investigation into X over its handling of user appeals and complaint mechanisms. The probe will assess whether users can challenge both content removals and refusals to remove reported content, whether they receive adequate notice on report outcomes, and whether X maintains an easily accessible internal complaints system. Non‑compliance may trigger administrative penalties of up to 6% of X’s annual turnover under Irish law implementing the DSA.

The case proceeds under Ireland’s Broadcasting Act as amended in 2024 to incorporate the DSA. The regulator cites supervisory work and multi‑source analysis suggesting potential breaches of X’s DSA obligations. In parallel, the European Commission continues its separate proceedings against X as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP), including a preliminary finding in July 2024 that X’s blue check‑mark practice violates DSA transparency requirements.

The Irish inquiry focuses on core DSA user‑rights pillars: transparency of moderation decisions, meaningful appeal routes, and internal complaint handling. These elements align with Articles 14–17 DSA on notice, statement of reasons, and redress pathways. A confirmed infringement would underscore that procedural guarantees for users are enforceable obligations, not optional features.

Contextually, recent data indicate that platforms such as TikTok, Meta, and YouTube often overturn initial moderation outcomes in DSA disputes, highlighting the importance of robust appeal systems. The X investigation may set a benchmark for how national Digital Services Coordinators scrutinize platforms’ procedural compliance and could inform Commission‑level enforcement across larger platforms.