Strengthening Trust. Code of Conduct on Human-Machine Decision-Making in Content Moderation.

Providers of digital services such as Meta and TikTok have a significant influence on human-machine interaction in the governance of online content. The Code of Conduct addresses the crucial, yet often overlooked relationship between human moderators and technological systems. It emphasises accountability, due process, fairness, and transparency in algorithmic decision-making. Consisting of ten principles in total, it complements the DSA framework in relevant areas and aims to foster trust in semi-automated systems. Ultimately, the code seeks to (re)shape the human-machine relationship in content moderation. The code of conduct was developed as part of the four-year project “Human in the Loop? Autonomy and Automation in Socio-technical Systems”, conducted by the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) in Berlin. The development of the code followed an iterative process based on scientific principles, integrating regulatory expertise and stakeholder engagement, in line with Article 45 DSA. Stakeholders included academic experts, members from NGOs, advocacy and policy groups, representatives from German platforms, as well as German branches of VLOPs and elected representatives of the German Bundestag.