Revolutionizing Online Safety: The EU’s Digital Services Act Promises a Fairer and More Transparent Internet

A revolutionary piece of EU legislation, the Digital Services Act (DSA), is aimed at creating a safer, fairer, and more transparent online environment. It applies to all online intermediaries operating within the European Union and safeguards users’ rights while protecting them from illegal content and products.

The DSA imposes obligations on all online platforms with users in the EU (excluding small businesses and micro-enterprises) to combat illegal content, protect minors, inform users about advertisements, prohibit targeted ads based on sensitive data, explain content moderation decisions, provide users with a complaints mechanism, publish annual reports on their content moderation procedures, and clearly define terms and conditions for users.

For very large online platforms and search engines, the Commission has direct supervisory and enforcement powers and can impose financial penalties of up to 6% of the service provider’s global turnover in serious cases. The Digital Services Coordinator and the Commission can require immediate actions to address harm and platforms can make commitments to remedy shortcomings. In extreme cases, platforms operating illegally may face temporary service suspension by judicial order.

The DSA’s enforcement mechanisms work to ensure compliance with regulations and protect users from harmful content and practices online.