Piracymeter Designated as Trusted Flagger under the Digital Services Act

Piracymeter has been officially designated as a Trusted Flagger (Intellectual Property Infringement) under Article 22 of the Digital Services Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/2065).

Trusted Flaggers are independent entities whose reports of illegal content are prioritized by online platforms. 

Trusted Flaggers are publicly listed by the European Commission

Piracymeter was designated by the Communications Regulatory Authority of the Republic of Lithuania (RRT), acting as the Digital Services Coordinator (DSC).
 

Where Piracymeter operates

Piracymeter submits notices across major platforms, including:

• TikTok
• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube
• X
• Telegram
• Dailymotion

This list is illustrative. The DSA applies to all platforms accessible in the EU, regardless of where they are established.
 

What Piracymeter does

As a Trusted Flagger, Piracymeter:

• submits notices under Article 16 DSA
• ensures accuracy and compliance
• monitors platform responses
• identifies gaps in enforcement

Piracymeter also submits an Annual Trusted Flagger Activity Report under Article 22(3) DSA and publishes it publicly to ensure transparency and assess platform performance.
 

Why this matters

Piracy operates at scale. Without prioritization, valid notices can be delayed.

Trusted Flagger status ensures that Piracymeter’s notices are treated as high-quality signals and processed with priority, improving consistency and effectiveness.
 

What does this mean for copyright holders?

• Priority handling
  Faster and more consistent processing
• Higher reliability
  Recognized, high-quality submissions
• Consistent enforcement
  More predictable outcomes
• Stronger protection
  More effective removal of illegal content

In practice, this makes enforcement scalable and reliable, not manual.
 

Why the DSA matters

The Digital Services Act sets binding rules for platforms in the EU. It requires:

• notice-and-action systems (Article 16)
• prioritization of Trusted Flaggers (Article 22)

Non-compliance can lead to fines of up to 6% of global annual turnover.

FAQ

What is a Trusted Flagger?

An independent entity whose notices are prioritized by platforms under the DSA.

Does the DSA apply to non-EU companies?

Yes. Any platform accessible in the EU must comply.

What is the difference between DSA and DMCA ?

Unlike the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which focuses on copyright and safe harbor protections, the Digital Services Act (DSA) covers a broader range of illegal content.

When focusing on copyright, the key difference lies in how enforcement is structured.

Under the DMCA, enforcement is largely private. Platforms retain safe harbor if they respond to notices, but if content is not removed or disputes arise, the copyright holder must pursue further action, typically through legal proceedings, at their own expense.

The DSA introduces binding obligations on platforms and regulatory oversight. Platforms must properly process notices, including prioritizing Trusted Flagger submissions, while regulators supervise compliance and can impose penalties for failures.

In simple terms:
DMCA = enforcement depends on the rightsholder, including legal escalation
DSA = enforcement is backed by platform obligations and regulatory enforcement