A new independent content moderation body for social media users in the EU is now available to make complaints against the content decisions made by platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.

Supported by Meta’s Oversight Board, which oversees content decisions across the company’s social platforms, and certified by Irelands’ media watchdog, the Appeals Centre Europe will serve as an alternative to settlement disputes under the EU’s Digital Services Act.

Without the new independent body, users in the EU previously needed to rely on the court system to contest content decisions made by social media companies.

Beginning operations before the end of the year, Appeals Centre Europe will first decide cases concerning Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube, but looks to include more platforms as it develops.

The new body, which will be based in Dublin, Ireland, is currently recruiting a team of experts, which will review each case to determine if the relevant platform’s decisions are compliant with their content policies, all within 90 days.

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According to the Digital Services Act, however, online platforms are not required to engage with the body, even if users bring up a case. Further, the Appeals Centre will not be able to impose a binding settlement based on its decision.

Meta’s oversight board has however thrown its support to the centre, with a one-time grant to fund its startup costs. The rest of the Centre’s costs will be funded from court case fees charged to social media companies, as well as a nominal fee paid by users which will be refunded if they win their case.

“We want users to have the choice to raise a dispute to a body that is independent from governments and companies, and focused on ensuring platforms’ content policies are fairly and impartially applied,” Thomas Hughes, CEO of the Appeals Centre, said.