About the FSM

The German Association for Voluntary Self-Regulation of Digital Media service providers (FSM e.V.) dedicates itself primarily to youth protection and combatting illegal, youth-endangering and developmentally-endangering online content. 

The association was founded in 1997 by media associations, telecommunications associations and companies that operate online offers. The FSM was recognized in 2005 by the German Commission for the Protection of Minors in the Media (KJM) as an organization for voluntary self-regulation. Alongside providers of Internet content, the FSM also counts hosting providers and access providers in their membership. Currently, the membership includes companies like Deutsche Telekom, Microsoft, Google, Telefónica, Meta, Bitkom e.V. as well as the German Association of Private Media e.V. (VAUNET).

The FSM office was established in 2002 in Berlin. Alongside the CEO Martin Drechsler, this office employs eleven fulltime staff. 

In addition to member care, the FSM focusses above all on self-regulation and the processing of complaints from members and non-members regarding illegal, youth-endangering and developmentally-endangering online content, as well as functioning as the Youth Protection Officer for member companies. Further information on the FSM Complaints Office can be found at https://www.fsm.de/en/hotline. In addition, the FSM undertakes extensive education work for the advancement of the media competence of children, parents and educators (https://www.fsm.de/en/media-literacy/).  

The German Association for Voluntary Self-Regulation of Digital Media service providers is a founding member of INHOPE, the umbrella association of international complaints offices.

Detailed information on the work of the association can be found at http://www.fsm.de/en.