eBay accused of making it too hard to report illegal content in Germany
The company could face fines of up to 6% of its global annual revenue.
The eBay logo displayed on a computer screen. Samuel Boivin/NurPhoto via Getty Images.
- Germany's Federal Network Agency accused eBay of breaking EU Digital Services Act rules on consumer protection and complaint handling.
- eBay's desktop site makes reporting illegal content too difficult, and the platform fails to notify users when their accounts are suspended.
- Sellers' contact information is hard to find on eBay, leaving consumers vulnerable to online fraud with little recourse.
- eBay faces fines up to 6% of global revenue if it doesn't fix violations, showing regulators are enforcing digital rights.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
The Bundesnetzagentur, the regulator for electricity, gas, telecommunications, post, and railway markets in Germany, has accused eBay of violating the Digital Services Act (DSA).
In January 2026, the Federal Network Agency launched proceedings against eBay for failing to protect consumers’ rights from major tech companies.
According to the Digital Services Coordinator (DSC), a separate division of the Federal Network Agency, the requirements for reporting and handling complaints aren’t implemented correctly.
The DSA requires online platforms to offer easily accessible, user-friendly ways to report illegal content. eBay’s desktop version, in particular, is said to be neither accessible nor user-friendly.
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In addition, the online retailer fails to inform users when the platform takes action against them, for example, by removing listings, blocking content, or suspending accounts. This allows users to understand the measures taken and effectively exercise their rights.
Lastly, sellers are too difficult to trace. By offering clear information on how to contact traders, this rule aims to protect consumers from online fraud. However, mandatory contact options aren’t easy to find on eBay.
“eBay can now comment on the violations and rectify them. If the company does not comply with our order, we will take further action. Users must be able to rely on their rights being protected in the digital space. That's the benchmark we're using in the case of eBay,” Johannes Heidelberger, Head of the DSC, says in a press release.
In response, eBay states that it “takes its obligations under the Digital Services Act very seriously and believes it has carefully implemented the legal requirements.”
“We are in close and constructive exchange with the Federal Network Agency on these issues and will continue this dialogue in the further course of the proceedings,” a company spokesperson told the German media.
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The online retailer has the opportunity to comment on the regulator’s findings and take measures to resolve the issues. If eBay fails to do so, the Federal Network Agency can impose a fine to enforce compliance with the DSA.
DSA fines can go up as high as 6% of a company’s global annual revenue.