The Digital Services Act (DSA) is an important legislative initiative by the European Union (EU) aimed at modernizing and strengthening the rules applicable to digital platforms and online services, ensuring a safer, more transparent, and equitable internet environment. Approved in 2022, this regulation applies to all providers of digital services operating in the European digital space, regardless of their location of origin.
Main Objectives of the DSA:
1. Protecting Users: The DSA establishes clear standards to protect users from illegal content, dangerous products, and unfair commercial practices. Platforms are required to act swiftly to remove or limit the visibility of content that violates European laws.
2. Promoting Transparency Companies must be more transparent about the algorithms they use to recommend content to users, as well as their content moderation policies. This includes providing detailed information about personalized ads and advertising practices.
3. Ensuring Proportional Responsibilities: The DSA adapts legal obligations to the size of the companies. Larger platforms, especially those considered "systemically important portals" (Very Large Online Platforms - VLOPs), face stricter requirements due to their significant impact on the market and society.
4. Fostering Fair Competition: The regulation seeks to prevent abuses by tech giants, promoting fair competition conditions for small and medium-sized enterprises. This includes measures to facilitate access to data and avoid anti-competitive practices.
Key Requirements of the DSA:
Content Moderation - Platforms must implement effective systems to identify and remove illegal content without unjustly censoring legitimate speech.
Right to Appeal - Users have the right to challenge decisions regarding content removal or account suspensions, ensuring a fair process.
Periodic Reports - Companies must publish regular reports on their moderation practices and compliance with DSA standards.
Access to Data - Accredited researchers can request access to certain platform data to study trends and impacts of digital services.
Penalties for Non-Compliance:
Companies that fail to comply with the provisions of the DSA may face substantial fines, which can reach up to 6% of their global annual turnover. In severe cases, specific activities may be ordered to cease, or companies that repeatedly violate the rules may even face division.
Impact on EU Citizens:
For EU citizens, the DSA means greater control over their online experience. They can expect reduced exposure to harmful content, increased transparency in platform practices, and stronger tools to protect their digital rights.
In summary, the Digital Services Act represents a landmark in the regulation of the European digital space, balancing technological innovation with the protection of fundamental rights and the promotion of a healthy and inclusive digital economy.