The Network Enforcement Law (NetzDG) came into effect in Germany on
October 1, 2017. The law requires an effective and transparent
procedure to handle removal complaints that concern illegal content as
defined under NetzDG and an obligation for social networks to publish a
transparency report on a biannual basis. We deprecated the
service Google+ for all consumers globally on April 2, 2019. The default
report available here covers the previous reporting period until the
deprecation, but users can also view the data from previous reporting
periods. The current version of the report is also available for download at
the end of the report.
This report provides data on our organisation and procedures, on the volume
of complaints, and on the volume of removed content. The report also
provides general information about our removal practices and policies.
The Network Enforcement Law (NetzDG) requires social networks with more than 2 million registered users in Germany to exercise a local take down of “obviously illegal” content (e.g., a post, image, video) within 24 hours of receiving notification. Where the illegality is not obvious, the provider has up to seven days to decide on the case. It may take longer only in exceptional cases, such as those where content authors are asked to weigh in, or if the decision gets passed onto a joint industry body or an institution of regulated self-regulation. To qualify for a removal under NetzDG, content must fall under one of the 21 criminal statutes to which NetzDG refers. YouTube—a service operated for users in Germany by YouTube LLC until January 22, 2019 and since then by Google Ireland Limited—offers a reporting structure under NetzDG. In addition, Google+—a service offered for consumers by Google LLC until April 2, 2019—offered a reporting structure under NetzDG.
Google provides the information about removals, policies, and procedures contained in this report in accordance with Germany’s Network Enforcement Law.