Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to the T&JM Frequently Asked Questions page!
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Welcome to the T&JM Frequently Asked Questions page!
Last updated
Was this helpful?
The Tech and Journalism Mechanism () serves as a communication channel between Ukrainian-based media outlets and social media companies to address and resolve moderation disputes. We accept cases involving systemic moderation issues stemming from various account-related incidents, including but not limited to:
Account removal
Account suspension or blocking
Mislabelling
Deamplification/reduced distribution
Promotion and monetisation restrictions
Repeated content moderation disputes
Impersonation
For example, if your media outlet has experienced multiple instances of content removal that you believe do not violate platform standards and terms of use, you can submit a detailing the content removal issue. Our team will review your report, verify the information with our partners, and determine if your case is eligible. If eligible, we will escalate the matter with the concerned social media company.
The T&JM serves Ukrainian media and journalism outlets that meet the minimum criteria for demonstrating adherence to professional and ethical journalistic standards. T&JM will vet the identity, authenticity, and compliance with ethical standards or codes of practice of the potential beneficiaries of the mechanism.
We are currently piloting the T&JM mechanism in Ukraine as an initial step. We aim to extend its availability to media outlets facing similar challenges outside of Ukraine in the future.
The T&JM aims to address cases of systemic moderation presented previously and will not address the following cases:
Satire
Gender violence
Legal matters
IT issues (redirect)
Security issues
Non-Ukraine-based issues
Individual cases
Bojana Kostic (Consultant)
Michael J. Oghia (Consultant)
Our collaboration with international partners and experts enhances the Tech and Journalism Crisis and Emergency Mechanism, bringing diverse global perspectives and valuable contributions to fortify our efforts.
The Tech and Journalism Crisis and Emergency Mechanism’s core values are in-line with or reflective of the following mechanisms and standards for journalism, news media, and technology:
Direct Support: Assisting independent journalism and news media organisations in navigating and escalating significant moderation incidents with major tech platforms.
Working Region: Launching initially in Ukraine with potential for broader application.
Collaborative Framework: Working in collaboration with Ukrainian organisations, international experts, and the T&JM Ukraine Coalition, to recognise and assess potential beneficiaries.
Goal: To have a dedicated platform for trusted and verified journalism organisations and news media to report account-related incidents and ongoing issues with prominent tech platforms. T&JM will not create a quality standard or assess the quality of the content produced, however, T&JM will vet the identity, authenticity, and compliance with ethical standards or codes of practice of the potential beneficiaries of the mechanism.
Systematic Change: Based on the data collected and working with T&JM Coalition and external organisations and experts, the T&JM will also act as a collaborative forum to advocate for changes and improvements in platform policies, provide recommendations in the establishment of crisis and emergency protocols, and guide future technical and policy decisions within different Internet governance and policy fora.
Please take into consideration that stopping the violations depends solely on the social media companies’ responsiveness and resources. The companies sometimes don’t respond within the expected timeline and take a late action. However, GFMD is committed to communicating to companies about the violations and developing mechanisms of cooperation and communication with companies in the best interest of social media users.
We are unable to offer a precise timeline for the review process or specify the extent of the platform's involvement in resolving cases. While we've received affirmative feedback from users indicating issue resolution, the user typically receives the first notification of resolution. Nonetheless, given the diverse internal procedures and resource constraints of platforms, we may not be able to disclose every step taken to address your case.
Depending on platform policies and priorities, some may draw more attention to issues concerning systemic issues hindering users’ ability to engage effectively on their platform. Nevertheless, our understanding of platform responsiveness and feedback frequency is consistently evolving. We strive to collect data to discern trends and patterns in the challenges encountered, enhancing our advocacy for the journalism community in Ukraine.
The ways media outlets can contribute include sharing anonymized data related to these challenges can facilitate research and analysis. Media development organisations can contribute their expertise by providing insights, analysis, and commentary on digital rights issues. This collaboration can enhance the platform's resources and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of challenges faced by journalists and technology users.
Address: Rdpt Robert Schuman 6, 1040 Bruxelles
Tel: +32 (0)2 720 26 00
Although we do not cover these cases, we actively work with our partners that may be better suited mechanisms to address the issues you are facing. For security issues, please consult Access Now’s .
The Global Forum for Media Development () and the Lviv Media Forum () jointly serve as the Secretariat of the T&JM, coordinating its stakeholders, activities, and administrative tasks.
In collaboration with international partners and experts, our initiative brings together a global network of professionals who contribute invaluable expertise and experience. T&JM include:
Daniel Bedoya Arroyo ()
Thibaut Bruttin and Bertrand Mossiat (
Zoey Barthelemy ()
Ruth Kronenburgh ()
Courtney C. Radsch ()
Charles Turner ()
Elodie Vialle ()
Joanna Szymanska ()
Lea Auffarth ()
Olaf Steenfadt ()
;
The Human Rights Council Special Rapporteurs’ ;
UNESCO’s ;
Recommendations from the 2022 report “” published by the Forum on Information and Democracy;
Maria Ressa’s and Dimitry Muratov’s;
Courtney C. Radsch’s for Internews & the U.S. State Department; and
ARTICLE 19’s proposed concept of
The cases are monitored by the Policy and Advocacy Team at the Global Forum for Media Development (), by examining the cases, verifying the information with a local Ukrainian Coalition, and contacting the social media companies when applicable. We will then follow-up on the case and provide all needed support to reverse the violation or get a justification, when possible. We then contact the user who made the report and update them on its status.
The Tech and Journalism Mechanism (T&JM) addresses violations across various social media platforms, including Meta (Facebook, Instagram), TikTok, and YouTube. However, it's important to note that our focus is primarily on major social media platforms, and we do not currently address violations on messaging apps such as Signal, Telegram, and others. While T&JM may not cover these specific platforms, individuals and media outlets encountering issues on messaging apps are encouraged to explore our . There, they can find useful links to other mechanisms and resources that may be relevant to addressing concerns on these platforms. Our aim is to provide comprehensive support and guidance to the extent possible within the scope of our focus.
You can submit a form via JotForm through . The form is available in both and to accommodate your preferred language. It's important to note that the form is encrypted for security purposes. While filling it out, we advise users to refrain from including sensitive information. We only share the necessary details with our partners and tech platforms to facilitate the review of your case, ensuring that sensitive information is removed to uphold your privacy.
Once you submit a form through Jotform, your information will be stored in GFMD’s database, which we can share with relevant parties to address the issue or with partners to provide support for the case. The information may also be used without indicating any personal information about its original owners for research and advocacy purposes, which are conducted by the T&JM Team according to GFMD’s
Media outlets wanting to engage with the Tech and Journalism Mechanism in tackling digital rights issues are invited to contact our .
Email:
