The European Union’s groundbreaking Digital Services Act (DSA) has entered into full force, imposing stringent regulations on digital companies to combat illegal and problematic content.
Initially applicable to platforms with over 45 million monthly users in the EU, the law, effective for all companies from Saturday, carries substantial fines for non-compliance by tech giants.
Key Elements of the Regulation:
Rules for All Platforms:
Platforms must swiftly remove illegal content upon awareness and report criminal offenses threatening lives or safety.
Annual reports on content moderation actions, dispute resolutions, and user suspensions for sharing hate speech or fake ads are mandatory.
Stricter rules for online shopping sites, requiring user identity verification and fraudster prevention.
Ban on targeted advertising for children aged 17 and under.
Transparency on data usage and prohibition of targeted ads based on sensitive data.
Extra Rules for Large Platforms:
22 “very large” platforms, including Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google, and TikTok, face additional obligations.
Risk assessment for illegal content and privacy violations, internal structures for risk mitigation, and enhanced content moderation are mandated.
Regulators gain access to platform data for compliance checks, shared with approved researchers.
Annual audits by independent organizations and appointment of internal supervisors ensure adherence to rules.
Complaints and Penalties:
Users can file complaints with national authorities for DSA violations.
Online shopping sites held responsible for non-compliant or dangerous products.
Fines up to six percent of global turnover for violations, with potential bans for repeated non-compliance.
EU, National Coordination:
Competent authorities in EU member states collaborate to investigate and sanction violations by smaller companies.
Very large platforms subject to the commission’s supervision.
National enforcement for platforms located in one member state, except for those under the commission’s oversight.
The DSA aims to empower users, streamline complaint processes, and establish a comprehensive framework for the responsible conduct of digital platforms, fostering a safer and more transparent online environment.