DSA Observatory

The latest DSA Observatory Newsletter is live! In this edition, we recap the many DSA developments of 2025 so far—from the impact of Trump 2.0 to the German federal elections and the newly minted Code of Conduct on Disinformation. We also announce applications for our 2025 Summer course on European platform regulation, and celebrate DSAO alumna Naomi Appelman for her amazing work and successful PhD defense. Congratulations, Dr. Appelman! ?? Find the link to our newsletter and sign up for future editions here: https://lnkd.in/dRSq_eTu

The latest DSA Observatory Newsletter is live! In this edition, we recap the many DSA developments of 2025 so far—from the impact of Trump 2.0 to the German federal elections and the newly minted Code of Conduct on Disinformation. We also announce applications for our 2025 Summer course on European platform regulation, and celebrate DSAO alumna Naomi Appelman for her amazing work and successful PhD defense. Congratulations, Dr. Appelman! ?? Find the link to our newsletter and sign up for future editions here: https://lnkd.in/dRSq_eTu

Applications are now open for our third annual IViR-DSA Observatory Summer Course on European Platform Regulation, taking place from 30 June-July 4 in Amsterdam! This intensive week-long program offers a deep dive into the DSA and key legal frameworks shaping online platforms, taught by experts from academia, government, and civil society. Engage in seminar-style discussions, gain rich theoretical and practical insights, and expand your professional network. Application deadline: 4 April 2025 ?? For more details & application: https://lnkd.in/dFeyT4He

New podcast ??: The first DSA risk assessment reports are out, but how do they stack up against expectations? I spoke with a fantastic all-women panel (a Tech Policy Press first?), to explore the extent of transparency these reports offer, and how to ensure future reports align with expectations. Hilary Ross Svea Windwehr Magdalena Jó?wiak? Tune in:

When Mark Zuckerberg claimed the EU is “institutionalizing censorship," he failed to recognize how the Digital Services Act (DSA) empowers users with new rights—including the right to challenge platforms' content moderation decisions through out-of-court dispute settlement (ODS) mechanisms. This is unprecedented. For the first time, EU users have legally enshrined pathways to contest platform decisions, with certified ODS bodies set to play a critical role. How can and should these entities apply fundamental rights in their decision-making? And with five certified ODS bodies already reviewing cases, what are the most urgent issues they are facing? These questions were explored in a recent expert workshop hosted by the DSA Observatory and the Article 21 - Academic Advisory Board. In our blog post, we share seven key themes from the workshop and what's at stake as the DSA’s accountability mechanisms begin to take shape. https://lnkd.in/djHJemhD Many thanks to organizers Jo?o Pedro Quintais ?? Niklas Eder Nitya Kuthiala John Albert and all the experts and representatives from ODS bodies who contributed to the workshop.

As we head into the holidays and the close of 2024, John Albert reflects on social media's role in the annulled Romanian presidential elections, the EU Commission’s escalating TikTok investigation, and New Year’s resolutions for DSA enforcement on systemic risks. https://lnkd.in/dpicyVPt

Over the past two weeks, the first wave of Digital Services Act (#DSA) risk assessment reports were finally released to the public. In our latest blogpost, John Albert unpacks early observations about these reports—their timing, format, and gaps—and offers tips for navigating what's next. https://lnkd.in/dSQvqsXs

As the deadline approaches for submitting to the Commission's call for feedback, DSA Observatory has two (!) new blogposts analyzing the draft delegated act on researcher access to platform data. 1. Sophie Stalla-Bourdillon emphasizes three key points to help preserve researcher autonomy under Article 40 DSA https://lnkd.in/d_byCW6c 2. John Albert shares insights from a recent DSA Observatory-hosted workshop, including a breakdown of what's new in the draft delegated act, what’s missing, and how to approach the Commission’s call for feedback https://lnkd.in/dF8fr5mM

The DSA puts a regulatory spotlight on recommender systems for their potential to amplify systemic risks. But what does it say about empowering users with more transparency and control over how these systems work? In a new blog post, Urbano Reviglio and Matteo Fabbri argue why platforms are falling short on their obligations to users—and envision a framework for meaningful user controls. https://lnkd.in/dKaVAhad

Next week is a big one for DSA land: it's when we expect the first risk + audit reports from VLOP to finally be published. What can we expect from these reports, and what's next? Read our analysis the DSA Observatory, from my new colleague Magdalena Jó?wiak https://lnkd.in/eaMYqQ4f