How to Report a Fake or Illegal Creator Profile Under the EU Digital Services Act

If you have found a profile using someone else's identity, posting stolen content, or sharing material that has no business being online, you are not powerless. The EU's Digital Services Act gives you a clear, enforceable right to report it, and platforms operating in Europe are legally required to act.

Under the DSA, any platform hosting user content must provide an easy electronic reporting mechanism for illegal content (Article 16), explain the decision it makes on your report (Article 17), offer an internal complaints process if you disagree with that decision (Article 20), and point you toward certified out-of-court dispute resolution if that also fails (Article 21). These are not optional features. They are legal obligations.

This guide covers what to include in your report, what happens after you submit it, and what to do if the platform does not respond.

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What the EU Digital Services Act Actually Requires

The Digital Services Act (Regulation EU 2022/2065) came into full force in February 2024. It applies to any platform offering services to EU users, regardless of where the platform is based. If it has users in Europe, it has obligations.

Four articles are most relevant when reporting a fake or illegal profile.

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Article 16: Notice and Action

This is the foundation. Under Article 16, every hosting platform must maintain an accessible, electronic mechanism that allows anyone to report content they believe to be illegal. The mechanism must be easy to find and straightforward to use.

When you submit a report, the platform is required to acknowledge receipt without undue delay and then notify you of the decision it makes. That decision must be communicated to you along with information about your options if you disagree with it.

What counts as illegal content under the DSA? The regulation defines it broadly. It covers content that violates EU law or the law of any Member State. In practice, for creator platforms, that includes impersonation, non-consensual intimate imagery, content that infringes copyright, content that depicts minors, and material that constitutes harassment or incitement.

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Article 17: Statement of Reasons

When a platform acts on content, whether it removes it, restricts it, or leaves it up, it must explain why. Article 17 requires a statement of reasons covering the factual basis for the decision, the legal or contractual ground relied on, and whether any automated tools were used. You are entitled to understand the reasoning, not just receive a yes or no.

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Article 20: Internal Complaint Handling

If you disagree with the platform's decision, Article 20 gives you the right to file an internal complaint. Platforms must process your objection in a timely, non-discriminatory, and non-arbitrary manner. You have at least six months from the date you become aware of the decision to do this.

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Article 21: Out-of-Court Dispute Settlement

If the internal complaint process still does not resolve the issue, Article 21 requires platforms to direct you toward certified out-of-court dispute settlement bodies. These are independent bodies that can review the case without you needing to go to court. Their decisions are not automatically binding, but the process is formal and documented.

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What to Include in Your Report

A vague report is easy to dismiss. A precise, well-documented report is much harder to ignore, and under the DSA, a compliant report triggers what the regulation calls "actual knowledge" for the platform, which has legal implications for how quickly they must respond.

Before you open any reporting form, gather the following.

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The Exact URL of the Profile or Content

Copy the direct link to the profile page, the specific post, or the piece of content you are reporting. A general complaint without a location gives the platform a reason to delay. If the illegal content appears across multiple posts or pages, note each URL separately.

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Screenshots

Take clear screenshots that capture the content as it currently appears. Include the profile name, the date visible on the post if possible, and the surrounding context. Screenshots are your evidence if the content is deleted before the platform reviews your report.

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A Clear Explanation of Why the Content Is Illegal

This is the part most people underwrite. The DSA requires a "sufficiently substantiated explanation" of why you believe the content violates the law. That means you need to name the specific issue.

• If it is impersonation, explain whose identity is being misused and how you know the profile is fake.
• If it is stolen content, identify the original creator and explain how you know the content was taken without consent.
• If it is non-consensual intimate imagery, state that clearly and reference the relevant law if you know it (for example, the relevant national law in your country).
• If it involves a minor, say so directly.

You do not need to be a lawyer to write this. Plain language is fine. What matters is that you are specific about the nature of the violation.

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Your Contact Details

The DSA requires you to provide your name and email address so the platform can acknowledge your report and communicate its decision. The only exception is for reports involving child sexual abuse material, where anonymity is permitted.

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A Good Faith Statement

Confirm that you genuinely believe the information in your report is accurate. This is required under Article 16(2)(d) and protects the process from bad-faith abuse.

Key point: A report that includes all four elements (location, explanation, contact details, and good faith statement) is a compliant DSA notice. The platform is then legally obligated to act on it in a timely, diligent, and non-arbitrary manner.

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What Happens After You Report

Submitting the report is not the end of the process. Here is what you should expect once your notice is in.

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Confirmation of Receipt

The platform must confirm your report has been received without undue delay. If you get no acknowledgement within a few business days, make a note of it in case you need to escalate later.

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A Decision and Statement of Reasons

The platform must review your report and communicate its decision along with a statement of reasons covering what they found, what action they took (or did not take), and the legal basis for that outcome. If automated tools were used, they must disclose that too.

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If You Disagree with the Decision

Under Article 20, you can file an internal complaint through the platform's own system. You have at least six months from the date you became aware of the decision to do this. The platform must re-examine the situation and respond with a fresh statement of reasons.

If that still does not resolve the issue, Article 21 requires the platform to direct you to a certified out-of-court dispute settlement body. The process is formal and documented, which matters if you later pursue legal action.

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Escalating to the National Digital Services Coordinator

Every EU Member State has a designated Digital Services Coordinator (DSC), the national authority responsible for enforcing the DSA. If a platform is ignoring reports or failing to provide statements of reasons, you can submit a complaint directly to your country's DSC. In Germany, that is the Bundesnetzagentur. The DSC has the power to investigate and impose penalties on non-compliant platforms.

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How to Report a Profile on MALOUM

MALOUM is a European creator platform that takes its content safety obligations seriously. All content is manually reviewed before it is published, which is a meaningful layer of protection. When something does slip through, the reporting process is straightforward.

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Using the Content Removal Form

MALOUM's content removal page allows anyone to submit a report anonymously. The form includes specific reporting categories that map directly to the kinds of violations you might encounter, including:

• Rights infringement
• Copyright concern
• Potentially featuring a minor
• Violent or harmful acts
• Hateful or inflammatory content
• Spam or misleading content
• Otherwise inappropriate or objectionable content

Select the category that best fits what you have found, provide the exact URL of the profile or content, include your explanation of why it is illegal, and attach any supporting evidence such as screenshots. Relevant reports are reviewed and typically resolved within five business days.

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Copyright and DMCA Reports

If your concern is specifically about stolen content or copyright infringement, MALOUM's DMCA page sets out the formal process for submitting a takedown notice. A valid DMCA notice to MALOUM should include:

• An electronic or physical signature from the rights holder or their authorised representative
• A description of the copyrighted work you believe has been infringed
• The specific URL where the infringing content appears on maloum.com
• Your contact details (address, phone number, and email)
• A good faith statement that the use is not authorised by the rights holder
• A sworn statement that the information in your notice is accurate

You can send your notice directly to dmca@maloum.com. MALOUM states that material considered to be copyright-infringing may be promptly removed or access disabled, and that repeat infringers may have their accounts terminated.

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Why Platform Choice Matters Here

The DSA sets minimum standards. What separates platforms is how seriously they treat those standards in practice. MALOUM's pre-publication review, anonymous reporting capability, and structured removal process reflect a platform built around trust, not just compliance checkboxes.

If you want to support creators in a space where their content and identity are genuinely protected, MALOUM is worth exploring. You can also read more in this overview of how creator platforms handle copyright and content theft protection.

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The Bigger Picture: Why These Rights Matter

The DSA exists because, for years, users had no reliable way to hold platforms accountable when harmful content stayed up. Reports disappeared with no confirmation, no explanation, and no recourse. That has changed.

Document everything. Keep copies of your report, the confirmation of receipt, the decision, and any follow-up correspondence. If you need to escalate to a DSC or pursue out-of-court settlement, a clear paper trail is your strongest asset.

Impersonation and stolen content cause real harm to creators and to fans who are deceived into engaging with fake profiles. The DSA gives you the tools to push back.

If you want to support creators on a platform where safety and transparency are built into the process from the start, create your free account on MALOUM and explore verified creator profiles directly.

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FAQ

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What is the difference between a DSA report and a DMCA takedown?

A DSA report covers any illegal content, from impersonation to harmful material to copyright infringement, and is rooted in EU law. A DMCA takedown is a specific process under US copyright law for removing infringing content. On platforms like MALOUM that operate internationally, both routes may be available. If your concern is stolen creative work, the DMCA process is more targeted. For impersonation or other violations beyond copyright, a DSA notice is the right starting point.

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Can I report a fake profile anonymously?

The DSA generally requires your name and email address so the platform can communicate its decision to you. The exception is for reports involving child sexual abuse material, where anonymity is permitted. On MALOUM, the content removal form allows anonymous submissions, though providing contact details means you will receive a direct response on the outcome.

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What should I do if the platform does not respond to my report?

Check that your report included all required elements: the exact URL, a clear explanation of why the content is illegal, your contact details, and a good faith statement. If it was compliant and you have received no response within a reasonable timeframe, file an internal complaint under Article 20. If that also fails, escalate to the Digital Services Coordinator in your EU Member State. In Germany, that is the Bundesnetzagentur.

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How long does a platform have to act on my report?

The DSA requires platforms to act "without undue delay" but does not set a fixed number of days. MALOUM states publicly that relevant reports are typically reviewed and resolved within five business days. If a platform is taking significantly longer with no explanation, that is grounds for an internal complaint or DSC escalation.

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Does the DSA apply to platforms based outside the EU?

Yes. The DSA applies to any platform offering services to EU users, regardless of where it is headquartered. A platform based in the US, UK, or anywhere else with EU users is still bound by the DSA's reporting, transparency, and accountability obligations.

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