Complaints relating to the protection of minors in the media have doubled
- 51,358 complaints examined in 2025 / a legal infringement was identified in 30,035 cases
- Success rate of 98.58 per cent for web-based content confirms the âtake-down instead of blockingâ self-regulatory approach
- Around a quarter of the URLs subject to complaints are hosted in Germany
- Anniversary year 2026: 30 years of the eco Complaints Office
With todayâs publication of its 2025 Annual Report, the eco Complaints Office looks back on another record-breaking year: With 51,358 reports examined and 30,035 legal infringements actually identified, it recorded the highest number of actionable complaints since its foundation in 1996. The eco Complaints Office has been actively combating illegal content on the Internet for 30 years and works day in, day out to ensure effective protection of minors in the media.
Annual Report 2025: three times as many actionable complaints as in 2024
The number of actionable complaints nearly tripled in 2025 compared with the previous year. Around 93 per cent of the reports examined concerned sexualised violence and boundary violations against children and young people. Reports received are examined by lawyers at the Complaints Office. Actionable complaints about illegal content are forwarded to the relevant hosting provider, where the content is then removed.
With a success rate of 98.58 per cent for web-based content, the long-standing success of the Complaints Officeâs self-regulatory approach â âtake-down instead of blockingâ â has once again been confirmed. Worldwide, almost all of the content subject to complaints was either removed or brought into compliance with the law. For child sexual abuse material hosted in Germany, the success rate stood at 100 per cent.
âCompared with the previous year, the number of cases we examined in the area of protection of minors in the media has almost doubled. In 30,035 cases, we identified a legal infringement and took action. This is not only a significant increase, but also an all-time high in our 30-year history. This trend demonstrates the urgent need for action â but also how effective and important functioning reporting and redress systems such as our eco Complaints Office areâ, explains Alexandra Koch-Skiba, Head of the eco Complaints Office.
The high proportion (42 per cent) of non-actionable complaints illustrates the fine distinctions involved in applying legal assessment criteria: Not every statement perceived as problematic is unlawful. The eco Complaints Office therefore employs only legal professionals, who carefully examine every report, taking into account freedom of expression and the high legal thresholds for intervention.
30 years of commitment to the Digital Protection of Children and Young People
Since 1996, the digital ecosystem has undergone fundamental change. Digital services such as social media, messaging services and AI applications now shape the everyday lives of young people. However, alongside these expanded possibilities for use, new risks have emerged or existing risks have changed â ranging from freely accessible pornography and violent content to cyber-grooming on a previously unknown scale.
âFor 30 years, the eco Complaints Office has made an indispensable contribution to the protection of children and young people in digital spaces, and it is an important partner in the implementation of the Digital Services Actâ, emphasises Johannes Heidelberger, Digital Services Coordinator at the German Federal Network Agency (BNetzA).
âThe DSA obliges intermediary services such as online platforms to provide clear reporting and redress procedures, transparent decisions and effective complaint mechanisms for users. As Digital Services Coordinator, my team and I monitor compliance with these requirements, respond to breaches of the DSA and coordinate cooperation at national and European level. The work of the eco Complaints Office supports effective enforcement by contributing, within the framework of an international multi-stakeholder network, to the rapid processing and removal of illegal content.â
International cooperation as the key to success
The work of the eco Complaints Office is embedded within a broad network of providers, law enforcement agencies, international partner hotlines and other organisations. It is a founding member of INHOPE, the international network of Internet hotlines, and forms part of the German Safer Internet Centre.
A large proportion of the reports â 24,400 cases â were transferred via the INHOPE network in 2025. Only around a quarter of the URLs subject to complaints were hosted in Germany. Both figures underline the importance of international cooperation.
âClose cooperation with national and international partners is essential for our work. Particularly when dealing with high case volumes, efficient processes, technological support and trust-based coordination are crucial â not least in terms of staff welfareâ, Koch-Skiba continues.
Keeping a close eye on regulatory developments
In addition to its operational case handling, the Complaints Office closely followed regulatory initiatives at national and European level in 2025, in particular the planned CSAM Regulation. The Complaints Office is also providing expert input into the current debate surrounding age verification and minimum age requirements for young peopleâs use of digital services.
At the same time, the Complaints Office was actively involved in promoting media literacy through webinars and workshops for parents, educational professionals and other multipliers.
About the eco Complaints Office
The eco Complaints Office has been active since 1996 and is an integral part of the system of regulated self-regulation in Germany. It enables Internet users to report content harmful to young people and illegal content free of charge and anonymously, and works closely with providers, public authorities and international partners.
To mark its 30th anniversary, we are pleased to offer interested media representatives background briefings and in-depth insights into the work of the eco Complaints Office in Cologne.
