The Digital Services Act: What will the new rules mean for the future of the Internet and for you?

The #DigitalServicesAct (DSA) came into force on 16 November 2022. But what does this far-reaching regulation mean for the future of the online world? In this post, we try to answer some of the questions you might have about the #DSA and changes you might expect to see when surfing the net in the coming years.

Why new rules at all, is the internet really so bad?

The internet has been evolving quite rapidly over the last few decades – and some of the biggest changes came with the arrival of the big platforms. The rules we established 20 years ago need to be updated. While online platforms have become an important part of our lives and have brought numerous benefits, it is unfortunately not only about accessing news and posting our holiday pictures. Users are increasingly exposed to illegal content, disinformation and other content that may raise concerns.

Because of this, we need fresh rules to set clear boundaries and responsibilities of main actors and thereby ensuring that the internet does not devolve into a completely uncontrolled “Wild West”.

Are you sure online platforms are going to respect these rules? What happens if they don’t?

The DSA includes serious penalties for not respecting the rules. For example, there could be fines of up to 6% of the company’s global turnover.

However, fines alone might not be enough. So that is why the DSA will also set standards for public accountability – ensuring people are fully informed on how the big platforms are taking action on some of important societal issues, such as tackling disinformation or ensuring protection of vulnerable groups online.

Will children be safer online after these new rules kick in?

Online platforms must protect minors using their services. When designing their services, platforms will have to put in place measures to ensure a high level of privacy, safety, and security for minors. This will include a ban on advertising targeting minors. In addition, “very large online platforms” (i.e. with more than 45 million users), will have to specifically assess any risks that the design and functioning of their service may raise for minors and adopt measures to tackle such risks.

The new rules might be relevant now, but things change fast. Are the rules going to change as well?

Given that the online environment changes quickly, we have tried to anticipate changes and ensure that the rules are flexible moving into the future. In addition, we will also introduce a monitoring system that will help us to stay up-to-date on regulating new technologies.

It is also worth noting that the previous rules, which the DSA will replace, have been around for about 20 years, so we hope that the new system will be able to stand the test of time in the same way.

When will we start seeing the first changes?

We have just agreed on the law and are now preparing for implementation. It should take between 12-18 months before these rules start to hit the ground. This means we will need to wait until around the end of 2023 or beginning of 2024 before we start seeing the first changes.

However, it is very important to have this transitionary period. Companies will have to make a number of changes to ensure they are compliant with the rules and the European Commission, as well as the Member States, has to be fully prepared to enforce them.

What are the top 5 changes will you notice?

1.?One of the first things you will notice is more visible buttons/tools to flag illegal content on online platforms, such as social media. These should be easily accessible, so this change will be immediately recognisable.

2.?The DSA will also ask platforms to simplify the long list of terms and conditions you are used to seeing when signing up for new services. The terms must be understandable for all ages, even for a child.

3.?There will be changes in how certain content is labelled – for example: if you are seeing an advertisement, you will know who is behind it and why you are being targeted in this instance.

4.?Many of the major online platforms now have e-commerce options. After the new rules are in place, you will be able to know more about your purchases, including clear information on who the seller is.

5.?Finally, you will also be able to change the criteria of the system that recommends you content on online platforms. You will have more and clearer explanations on how such recommender systems function and, if you are using the services of a very large platform, you will be able to opt out of the recommendations to avoid being profiled.?

Interested and want to find out more? Follow our account for more updates about the Digital Services Act and many other important EU digital policies.

• Press release
• Q&A
• DSA page