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About User Rights
Social media platforms are more than just a means of communication - they shape public debate and the exercise of the right to freedom of expression. We offer effective procedures for resolving content moderation disputes with social media platforms. Our decisions help to protect the legal order, democratic values and fundamental rights online.
"Our constitutional order also applies online. We are helping to develop an appropriate fundamental rights framework for content on social media."
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Niklas Eder
Co-Founder of User Rights
Why out-of-court dispute settlement for content on social media is so important: 
Article 21 of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) allows national Digital Services Coordinators to endow organisations with the task of settling content moderation disputes. These organisations, out-of-court dispute settlement bodies, can then issue decisions on whether content moderation actions, such as the removal of posts or the demotion of content, were justified or not. These decisions are non-binding, but platforms have an obligation to cooperate in good faith. Out-of-court dispute settlement has the potential to improve platform accountability and protect rights and democracy. As one of the first organisations to be certified, User Rights is a pioneer in the field. 
The founders of User Rights:
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Niklas Eder
Niklas Eder is the Co-Founder of User Rights and works as a Digital Policy Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Oxford. He is teaching the course “Technology, Democracy and Society” at King’s College London. He previously worked at the Oversight Board and the Information Society Project at Yale Law School.
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Raphael Kneer
Raphael Kneer is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of User Rights. Following a commercial apprenticeship, he studied law in Heidelberg and Madrid. Legal clerkship at the Higher Regional Court in Frankfurt/Main with stations with the Federal Foreign Office (European Staff and Brexit) and the German Embassy in Lima. He has been working as a lawyer for several years and has (co-)founded several companies.
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Prof. Dr. Stephan Breidenbach
Prof. Dr. Stephan Breidenbach is a professor, mediator and entrepreneur. He has extensive experience as an arbitrator, including at  the ICC (International Chamber of Commerce) in Paris and the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport), in addition to his experience advising the German government. He is the founder of social initiatives (such as Schule im Aufbruch) and impact companies (such as betterplace.org/gut.org AG).
News About User Rights:
Tremau and User Rights: A Partnership to Strengthen Independent Remedies and Risk Mitigation under the DSA
May 6, 2025
Press Release
In English

Tremau and User Rights have formed a strategic partnership to strengthen the protection of user rights under the Digital Services Act (DSA) and enhance the interaction between Tremau’s Trust & Safety platform, Nima, and User Rights’ appeal systems.  

The collaboration aims to make independent remedies more accessible and more reliable for users across the EU while supporting platforms in meeting their obligations under Article 21 DSA by reducing the operational burden of data exchange and enabling more efficient dispute resolution processes.

Download: Partnership Announcement - Tremau and User Rights
Streitbeilegung für Online-Plattformen: "Wie Gerichtsverfahren, nur komplett digital"
April 7, 2025
beck-aktuell
In German
Nach dem DSA sol­len au­ßer­ge­richt­li­che Stel­len Strei­tig­kei­ten zwi­schen Platt­for­men wie Face­book und ihren Nut­zern schlich­ten. Die User Rights GmbH ist die erste die­ser Stel­len in Deutsch­land. Nach gut einem hal­ben Jahr zie­hen die Grün­der Ni­klas Eder und Ra­pha­el Kneer im Ge­spräch Bi­lanz.
To the article
Art. 21 DSA Has Come to Life
November 5, 2024
Verfassungsblog
In English

Art. 21 DSA is a new, unusual and interesting framework to settle disputes over online content moderation decisions. It might be described as a “new animal”, introducing alternatives to existing redress mechanisms.

To the article
Instagram o TikTok te han bloqueado y no sabes qué hacer: tranquilo, nacen en Europa los órganos a los que acudir
Oktober 8, 2024
Business Insider Spanien
In Spanish
La aparición en Irlanda de un "centro de apelaciones" contra las plataformas pone en el foco uno de los aspectos menos conocidos del Reglamento de Servicios Digitales.
To the article
Brave New World
September 10, 2024
Verfassungsblog
In English
Out-Of-Court Dispute Settlement Bodies and the Struggle to Adjudicate Platforms in Europe
To the article
Many Ways to File a Complaint
August 26, 2024
Netzpolitik
In German
Complain to the Platform, the Digital Services Coordinator, or Go Straight to Court?
Those who want to challenge decisions made by an online platform have many options.
To the article
Social Media: New Complaint Office Now Online
August 13, 2024
RBB Online
In German
Users Can Now File Complaints with a Federal Network Agency Mediation Office for Issues with Online Networks.
To the article
Complaint Office for Social Media Users Is Now Online
August 13, 2024
Tagesspiegel
In German
If you feel unfairly treated by a social network, you can now have the decision independently reviewed. However, this is not legally binding for the platforms.
To the article
Trouble with TikTok and More? Here’s Where You Can Turn for Help.
August 13, 2024
Das Ding
In German
Since Monday, you can file complaints about TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn with the dispute resolution platform user-rights.org.
To the article
Account Suspended, Post Not Deleted: How Instagram and TikTok Users Can File Complaints
August 13, 2024
Berliner Zeitung
In German
Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn Users Can Now Report Issues to a Complaint Office – Here’s How It Works
To the article
New Complaint Office for Users of Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn
August 13, 2024
ARD Tagesschau
In German
The Federal Network Agency has established a mediation office for users of TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Here, users can challenge decisions made by the platforms—for example, if their account has been suspended.
To the article
For press inquiries, please contact:
Raphael Kneer
press@user-rights.org
What does User Rights do?
We review complaints from users whose social media posts have been deleted or moderated. We also review complaints from individuals or organisations who have reported content that has not been removed by a platform. Our content moderation assessment covers suspected or alleged violations of German law and violations of platform terms and conditions EU-wide. We review German and English-language content. We are currently accepting complaints about Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn. We plan to expand our work and accept complaints about further social media platforms in the coming months. 
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What is the Digital Services Act?
The Digital Services Act (DSA) is a European regulation that aims to create a safe and transparent digital space on the internet. The DSA obliges online platforms to cooperate with independent dispute resolution bodies such as User Rights. The regulation sets out rules and responsibilities for online platforms in order to ensure the protection of fundamental rights and effectively combat illegal and harmful content.
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How does the process work?
In short, you file a complaint, and we will do the rest. You will receive a reasoned decision at the end of the procedure. Our independence and expertise have been certified by the competent authority. Social media platforms are legally obliged to work with us and pay our fees.
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What is the impact of the decision?
We examine your rights in both a national and European context. While our decisions are not directly binding, online platforms are obliged to cooperate with us and to check whether there is any reason why our decision should not be implemented. Our decision will also allow you to assess your options for further action in case the platform does not implement our decision.
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How is User Rights financed?
We are independent and are financed by fees incurred as part of reviewing cases, paid by the online platforms. We are allowed to charge the online platforms reasonable fees for the proceedings. These fees are limited in amount and are regularly reviewed by the competent authority.
You want to know exactly how we work? Download the Rules of Procedure and Schedule of Fees here:
Rules of Procedure Schedule of Costs