In May, the Agency closed the call for tenders for the co-financing of trusted notifiers in 2026 in accordance with the Law on the Implementation of the (EU) Regulation on the Single Market for Digital Services (ZIUETDS). The PIP Institute, the first trusted notifier in the Republic of Slovenia, was awarded the co-financing. The co-financing is provided from the budget.
Trusted applicants have a specific role to play in making the web safer, in line with Article 22 of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 on a Single Market for Digital Services (Digital Services Act). They are mandated to prioritise the notification of illegal content appearing on platforms to online platform providers. Platforms should prioritise their reports, as their reports should in principle be more accurate and substantiated than those submitted by other users. AKOS has granted PIP Trusted Whistleblower status in 2025 for the areas of cyber violence, illegal or harmful speech and protection of minors.
The call for co-funding provided funding for Trusted Applicants in two areas identified as key in terms of internet safety and trust. The two areas are illegal interference with consumers' rights online (online fraud and scams and various undesirable phenomena in online marketplaces (counterfeit, dangerous, non-compliant or prohibited products, inadequate consumer information)) and illegal online communications (cyber violence, illegal speech, protection of minors and other forms of online violence). Only the second area was awarded funding (there were no applicants in the first), amounting to EUR 25,000.00. The purpose of the call for proposals was to strengthen the capacity of trusted applicants and to ensure their sustainability in this important role in the Slovenian digital space.
On the basis of the commitments made in the call for tenders, PIP undertakes to implement the following activities by 10 November 2026: setting up and operating a contact point for users and an informative website (both already in place), dealing with user reports and self-initiated search for illegal content.
AKOS, as the coordinator of digital services in the Republic of Slovenia, continues its activities to create a safer and more trustworthy digital environment, in line with the provisions of the Digital Services Act and ZIUETDS. More information on trusted applicants and the procedure for obtaining the status is available on the AKOS website.
