Ireland expands Trusted Flagger network under the DSA
The latest initiative places Ireland at the centre of faster illegal content reporting across the EU.
Ireland’s media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, has granted Trusted Flagger status to three additional organisations under the EU Digital Services Act.
The Irish Internet Hotline, the Irish Music Rights Organisation and the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland will join the Central Bank of Ireland, which received Trusted Flagger status in 2025.
Each organisation will submit notices to online platforms within its area of expertise. The Irish Internet Hotline will report child sexual abuse material, non-consensual intimate image sharing, racism, xenophobia, financial scams and fraud. The Irish Music Rights Organisation will focus on copyright infringement, particularly music and lyrical copyright, while the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland will report illegal antisemitic material.
Under the Digital Services Act, Trusted Flaggers are recognised bodies that can notify platforms of illegal content. Platforms must give those notices priority and decide on them without undue delay, although the designation does not guarantee content removal.
Coimisiún na Meán said reports from Trusted Flaggers will also help identify online safety trends and support evidence-based supervision of online platforms.
To qualify, organisations must demonstrate expertise in detecting, identifying and notifying illegal content, operate independently from online platforms and carry out reporting activities diligently, accurately and objectively.
The three new accreditations will remain valid for 3 years and can be reviewed, revoked, or reassessed upon expiration of the accreditation period.
Why does it matter?
Trusted Flaggers are one of the practical enforcement mechanisms of the Digital Services Act. Ireland’s expansion of the network creates specialised reporting channels for different categories of illegal online content, including child sexual abuse material, non-consensual intimate images, scams, copyright infringement and antisemitic material. The model aims to improve the quality and speed of platform responses while keeping final moderation decisions with platforms under DSA procedures.
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