Appeals Centre Europe began providing dispute resolution services in Ireland in 2024.

UK-based independent press regulator Impress is launching a new service in Ireland to help take down illegal content, such as AI-generated deepfakes, from social media.

Impress Dispute Resolutions Services – Impress’ Dublin subsidiary – is an out-of-court dispute settlement (ODS) body certified by Ireland’s media regulator Coimisiún na Meán.

Launching today (8 September), it is offering a free of charge, independent mechanism for EU citizens to contest harmful content and platform decisions under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). IDR’s scheme is available to users in Ireland and the EU and covers major platforms including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.

The DSA mandates that online platforms must provide a clear and accessible means to lodge complaints against illegal content. They must also allow users to request a review if they disagree with a platform’s decision.

In addition, the law also provides users the ability to turn to ODS bodies, which offer a faster and more cost-effective way to settle disputes with social media platforms when compared to the much more tedious judicial routes. These bodies are generally provide services at a low or no cost.

While ODS bodies cannot impose a binding settlement, platforms and users are required to engage with them in good faith.

“Over the past decade, we’ve supported thousands of people harmed in the media – and demand has never been higher,” said Impress Dispute Resolutions co-founder Gia Thom. “We’re non-profit by design, which keeps IDR independent, credible and focused on strengthening the information ecosystem.”

The EU has 11 listed ODS services spread across the bloc, including the Appeals Centre Europe, which began providing ODS services in Ireland in 2024.

Safety on social media has come to a head in recent years, with parents and lawmakers moving to shield children from the provable harms posed online by banning popular platforms.

Meanwhile, the proliferation of illegal content is getting compounded by AI, which enables bad actors to generate realistic-looking (often non-consensual and sexual) images and videos in seconds.

IDR, in addition to dealing with AI deepfakes, can also help users navigate disputes around illegal or harmful speech, the negative impacts on civic discourse or elections, and data protection, among other areas.

“Impress has delivered independent and effective redress for the public harmed by the media for over a decade, and we are very pleased to extend our proven service to those harmed by decisions of tech platforms,” said Impress CEO Lexie Kirkconnell Kawana.

“We know intimately and rise to the challenge of balancing the rights of individuals, groups and organisations while upholding the law and protecting free speech. Impress represents integrity in all that we do, and we will continue to embody this principle in providing fair outcomes for all participants to our scheme.”

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