Digital Services Act: a dynamic tool for safeguarding democracy online

Earlier today, the European Parliament’s plenary debate on the Digital Services Act #DSA underlined its critical role in safeguarding our digital public sphere. Let’s take a closer look at what the DSA has already achieved and the challenges that remain.?

What has the DSA already achieved ???

1?? It ensures #transparency and #accountability from online platforms, requiring them to moderate content and report on it, centralise ads in a repository and provide the main parameters of recommender systems. Additionally, it requires Very Large Online Platforms and Search Engines #VLOPSEs to publish their audits – shedding light on how they manage issues such as elections and civic discourse on their service (More info: DSA Database: Essential Data for Professionals | Tremau.?

2?? It places #democracy at the forefront by requiring #VLOPs to identify and mitigate threats to democratic processes such as disinformation and foreign interference. This includes disclosing ad sponsors and providing targeting criteria. Providers need to give priority to notices from #TrustedFlaggers to support the identification of illegal content. Finally, vetted experts are given significant #DataAccess.?

3?? It #empowers users by allowing them to opt out of personalised content recommendations, report illegal content and challenge moderation decisions through improved appeals processes and even out-of-court dispute mechanisms.??

4?? National regulators work with the EU Digital & Tech to enforce the rules and ensure compliance. Non-compliance can result in fines of up to 6% of their global revenue. If all powers have been exhausted to make the service comply, a DSC of a Member State can request a national court to temporarily ban a service where the non-compliance involves criminal offenses with a threat to the life or safety of people.?

The road to DSA success ???

The DSA is a future-proof, horizontal instrument that applies across many different scenarios. It is a sea-change in how we regulate online platforms and search engines in Europe. However, we should not forget that for the vast majority of platforms it has been in force for less than a year. Moreover, several Member States are still in the process of setting up their authorities and equipping them with the necessary powers and resources.??

An ongoing dialogue between the service providers and regulators and authorities at national and EU level will be key in turning the DSA’s vision of a safer and more accountable online space into reality. As we await guidance on critical issues – such as protecting minors, data access for researchers and Trusted Flaggers – it’s important to acknowledge that we are just at the beginning of the DSA journey.?

Henna Virkkunen Christel Schaldemose Andreas Schwab Sandro Gozi Svenja Hahn