Online platforms make millions of decisions about removing, restricting, or leaving content online. These decisions can significantly affect freedom of expression, access to information, and users’ ability to participate in digital public life. But what can users do when they believe a platform has made the wrong decision?

The EU Digital Services Act introduces a new system of certified out-of-court dispute settlement bodies, which are intended to provide users with an accessible and independent way to challenge platform content moderation decisions. This talk introduces this new mechanism and examines how it works in practice. Drawing on ongoing comparative research, it explores whether these bodies are genuinely accessible to users, how transparent their procedures are, and what barriers may limit their effectiveness.

The presentation will also consider the broader role of dispute settlement in platform governance. Can these bodies improve accountability and procedural fairness, or do they risk becoming another complex layer in an already difficult regulatory system? The talk will conclude with practical recommendations for making the system more understandable, usable, and effective.