Appeals Centre Europe: a step-by-step guide
If you live in the EU, an independent body can review Meta's decision for free.
Stuck? Skip the letters and send your case to people who do this every day.
We'll handle it for youIf you live in the EU, the Digital Services Act (Article 21) lets you take a Meta decision to a certified out-of-court dispute body after the platform's own review. Appeals Centre Europe (ACE) is certified by Ireland's Coimisiún na Meán and covers Facebook, Instagram and Threads, among others.
Who qualifies
- You're located in an EU Member State and aged 16 or over
- The decision was made within the last six months
- You can communicate in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Polish or Dutch
- The case is about content or an account suspension tied to content
What to prepare
- The platform reference number (or your username and the content link if none)
- The decision date and the Community Standard named in "Why this happened"
- A statement of up to 3,500 characters covering context, reach and nuance
The generator shows a live character count; choose "Full letter" and trim to fit.
Steps
- Create an account on the ACE portal and click Start Dispute.
- Choose the platform and dispute type.
- Enter the reference and answer the portal questions.
- Paste your statement and confirm the attestation (not repetitive, not filed elsewhere).
- ACE requests information from Meta and emails you when the decision is in your case portal.
Source: ACE Rules of Procedure. Outside the EU? See other escalation options, or have UnbanPro run the process.
How to write the 3,500-character statement
- Context: what the account is and what the flagged content or activity was.
- Why the decision is wrong: quote the Community Standard and explain why it doesn't fit.
- Harm: what you lose without the account.
- Request: restore the account or the content.
Choose Legal notice and EU / EEA in the generator, then trim to fit. The character counter warns you if you go over.
Other certified bodies
The DSA allows more than one certified dispute body. Check that a body is certified for Facebook or Instagram before you file, and don't file the same dispute in two places.
Questions people ask
Do I have to finish Meta's internal appeal first?
No. You can go to a certified body without finishing the internal appeal.
Is ACE binding on Meta?
Its decisions aren't legally binding, but platforms have to engage with certified bodies in good faith.
More appeal guides
- Appeal templates library
- Instagram appeal templates by situation
- Facebook appeal templates
- Ad account and Business Portfolio appeal templates
- Facebook Page and group appeal templates
- Follow-up messages and support chat scripts
- Where to appeal: the official route for each decision
- What to include in your appeal
- Appeal mistakes to avoid
- Finding your reference number and the policy named
- ID documents for appeals
- After you submit: what each stage means
- Escalation options after a closed appeal
- Glossary of Meta ban and appeal terms
- Appeal FAQ
- Pre-submit appeal checklist
- "We suspended your account": what it means and what to do
- "Disabled for not following our terms"
- The 180-day appeal window, explained
- Disabled with no option to appeal
- Stuck on 'under review'
- Sending a formal legal notice to Meta
- GDPR requests after a ban
- US complaint routes
- UK users: your options
- Appeal examples: good vs bad