ODS Facilitator: A new profession under the Digital Services Act
The enactment of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 on Digital Services (Digital Services Act – DSA) marks a new era for alternative dispute resolution in the European Union. The Regulation, which will be fully applicable from February 2024, introduces, among other innovations, an essential tool for strengthening trust in the digital market. It is the institution of out-of-court dispute resolution between users and platform providers.
In this context, a new professional role emerges, that of the ODS Facilitator.
The institutional framework of the DSA
The DSA (especially the articles 20 and 21) provides that providers of very large online platforms (VLOPs) and other online intermediaries must ensure that users have the right to have recourse to certified out-of-court dispute resolution bodiesThese bodies operate with independence, impartiality and competence and have the authority to examine disputes arising in particular from:
Decisions for content removal or account suspension,
Access restrictions in services,
Disputes related to the application of terms of use.
The process must be easily accessible, fast and affordable, so that it constitutes a real alternative to legal action.
In this new institutional environment, the need for specialized professionals that will facilitate these processes is obvious.
The role of the ODS Facilitator
THE ODS Facilitator is the legal professional who has the necessary knowledge to take on the crucial role of facilitating ODS processes. This is a role that combines:
Legal competence
Understanding of the European and national framework, with emphasis on the provisions of the DSA and the operation of the platforms.
Mediation skills
Use of neutrality, de-escalation and dialogue support techniques.
Technological understanding
Familiarity with digital platforms and new ODR/ODS tools.
International orientation
Ability to operate in a cross-border environment, where cases often involve different Member States and multiple legal orders.
Essentially, the ODS Facilitator is the new digital justice professional, bridging law with technology and enhancing the credibility of ADR mechanisms at a pan-European level.
The contribution of startADR
startADR, as certified ADR body in Europe and pioneer in the field of online dispute resolution, undertakes to train the first generation ODS Facilitators in Greece and internationally.
The training includes:
- Detailed presentation of institutional framework (DSA, ADR Directive, ethical principles).
- Practical techniques facilitation, de-escalation and professional neutrality.
- Use ODR/ODS platforms with simulations and real scenarios.
- Integration into a international community of professionals who are active in the sector.
In this way, startADR not only provides training, but also creates a new professional field with substantial employment prospects across Europe.
A unique opportunity to specialize
Alternative Dispute Resolution is entering a new era. ODS Facilitator is not just another certificate, it is the profession that will shape the practical application of DSA in the next decade.
For him lawyer, legal professional and mediator, constitutes a unique opportunity to specialize in an institution with institutional consolidation and an international perspective.
Become a member of the first generation of ODS Facilitators.
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