In short. Under DSA Article 17, a host must explain the restriction, its factual and legal or contractual grounds, relevant automation and available redress.
Definition: A statement of reasons is the clear, specific explanation a hosting service must give an affected user under Article 17 of the Digital Services Act when restricting content because it considers it illegal or incompatible with its terms. It identifies the restriction, the grounds and facts behind it, any relevant use of automation, and available ways to challenge the decision.
Key facts
- The Digital Services Act, Article 17(2) requires the explanation at the latest when the restriction takes effect, where the host knows the relevant electronic contact details.
- As of October 2026, the European Commission's database documentation distinguishes automated detection of content from automation used to decide whether it infringes a rule.
- The Commission's transparency database FAQ explains that public database records exclude personal data and redress options.
Which services and decisions fall within Article 17?
A hosting service stores information supplied by, and at the request of, a user, as defined in Article 3(g)(iii). Under DSA Article 2(1), the regulation covers intermediary services offered to users established or located in the EU, irrespective of the provider's location.
Article 17(1) covers restrictions imposed because the host considers user information illegal or incompatible with its terms and conditions. It includes removal, disabling access and demotion of specific content. It also covers restrictions on monetary payments, suspension or termination of all or part of the service, and suspension or termination of the user's account.
What information must the explanation contain?
Article 17(3) sets out the minimum information:
- The measure. The statement identifies the restriction imposed and, where relevant, its territorial scope and duration, under Article 17(3)(a).
- The facts. It describes the facts and circumstances relied on. Where relevant, this includes whether the decision follows an Article 16 notice or the host's own investigation. The notifier's identity is included where strictly necessary, under Article 17(3)(b).
- Automation. Where applicable, it explains the use of automated means in the decision, including whether automation detects or identifies the content, under Article 17(3)(c).
- The legal basis. For allegedly illegal content, it references the legal ground and explains why the information is considered illegal on that ground, under Article 17(3)(d).
- The contractual basis. For an alleged breach of terms, it references the contractual ground and explains why the information is considered incompatible with it, under Article 17(3)(e).
- Redress. It gives clear, user-friendly information about available ways to challenge the decision, including, where applicable, internal complaints, out-of-court dispute settlement and judicial redress, under Article 17(3)(f).
The Commission's database documentation gives practical detail on automation: a fully automated decision involves no human intervention, while a partially automated decision combines automated means and human involvement. Its detection field separately records whether automated means identify the content.
How specific must the statement be, and what exceptions apply?
Article 17(4) requires clear, easily comprehensible information that is as precise and specific as reasonably possible in the circumstances. The explanation must reasonably allow the user to exercise the available redress options effectively.
Article 17(2) makes the duty conditional on the host knowing the relevant electronic contact details and excludes deceptive high-volume commercial content. Article 17(5) excludes orders referred to in Article 9, which concerns orders to act against illegal content.
Related terms
- When can a website with user content be a hosting service under the DSA?
- What must website terms say about content moderation under the DSA?
- When must an online platform provide internal content complaints?
FAQ
Can a host give only a general reference to its rules?
Article 17(3)(e) requires both a reference to the contractual ground and an explanation of why your information is considered incompatible with it. Article 17(4) also requires an explanation specific enough to support effective redress.
Does the host need to explain a demotion?
Yes. Article 17(1)(a) expressly includes demotion when the restriction rests on alleged illegality or incompatibility with the host's terms, subject to the article's conditions and exceptions.
Does the public database include the appeal instructions sent to me?
The Commission's FAQ says redress options are excluded from the public database because they concern the statement's addressee. Article 17(3)(f) requires your statement to include information on the redress available for the decision.
Sources
- European Parliament and Council, "Digital Services Act, Regulation (EU) 2022/2065", 19 October 2022
- European Commission, "Overview documentation", undated
- European Commission, "DSA Transparency Database: Questions and Answers", 7 July 2025
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