Appeals procedure

1.Who can appeal and why

A creator whose audit ended in a refusal, or whose certificate was suspended or removed, can appeal. Valid grounds are new evidence, a procedural error, or a misapplied check. An appeal is not a way to argue the same facts again.

2.How to appeal

Sign in to your portal, open Findings and appeals, and send your grounds. You have 20 business days from the decision. Your certificate keeps its current status while the appeal is open.

3.Stage 1: internal re-review

A different auditor, who did not work on the file and was not the second reviewer, reviews your whole file within 10 business days. They may uphold the decision, overturn it, or order a re-test.

4.Stage 2: panel

If you still disagree, a panel of three decides within 20 business days: one senior reviewer from our team and two outside professionals, such as a video editor, a digital forensics practitioner or a platform trust and safety professional, with no link to you. The majority decides, and the decision is final for that cycle.

Outside panel members are recruited for each appeal. If recruiting will take longer than 30 business days we tell you in writing, and you may withdraw the appeal and have your fee refunded.

5.Outcomes

• Upheld: the original decision stands.
• Overturned: the decision is reversed and a new decision is made.
• Re-test: you are re-tested once on a new random sample.

6.Cost and records

There is no fee to appeal. We keep a record of every appeal and its outcome.