25.11.2025

When encountering online content that raises concerns – whether it is disguised political advertising during the election period, or information that may violate the law or the rules of an online platform – users, but also candidates in the by-elections of 7 December 2025, have clear mechanisms to react. ANCOM, as the digital services coordinator in Romania, recalls how these notifications can be made so that the competent authorities or online platforms can intervene promptly.

Ways to report  non-compliant political advertising online

Users, as well as candidates or candidates' representatives, can report non-compliant online political advertising materials identified on very large online platforms or even on various websites to the district electoral bureaus or to the county electoral bureaus, as the case may be. Contact details for these bureaus are published on the website of the Permanent Electoral Authority, here.

Ways to report political advertising on very large online platforms

The very large online platforms—Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, and LinkedIn—do not allow political advertising. Under these conditions, users, as well as candidates and their representatives, can report any advertisements they believe constitute political advertising directly to these platforms. If they are not satisfied with the decision taken by the platforms regarding the reported content, users can escalate the issue through the platform’s internal complaint resolution system, which these platforms are legally required to provide.

Here you can find links to information offered by some of these platforms, explaining how to directly report content that violates their general terms of use.

Ways to report illegal content on very large online platforms

The Digital Services Act requires all very large online platforms offering services in the European Union to have mechanisms in place that allow users to easily report illegal content. Thus, users, including candidates and their representatives, can report directly to very large online platforms any information they believe constitutes illegal content, using the reporting mechanisms provided by those platforms.

Here you can find links to information provided by some of the very large online platforms on reporting illegal content directly to them.

ANCOM’s role

If, after following the steps provided by an online platform, users believe that the platform has not fulfilled its obligations to provide a mechanism for reporting illegal content or to offer an internal complaint-handling system, they may submit a complaint to ANCOM, using the dedicated form and attaching conclusive evidence of each step taken. If the platform is based in Romania, ANCOM will handle the complaint. If the platform is one of the very large online platforms mentioned earlier, ANCOM will forward the notification to the digital services coordinator in the country where the platform is established.

To assist users of intermediary services, ANCOM has published detailed information on ANCOM’s role as Digital Services Coordinator, what constitutes illegal content, who can file a complaint, which services may be subject to a complaint under Article 53 of the Digital Services Act, or how to report illegal content. More details are available in the Digital Services section of the ANCOM InfoCentre.

In its capacity as Romania’s Digital Services Coordinator, ANCOM has no role in moderating online content, does not act as an appeal body against decisions made by very large online platforms regarding illegal content, and does not act as an out-of-court authority in disputes between different users or parties regarding illegal content.