The European Digital Services Act aims to modernize the e-Commerce Directive concerning illegal content, transparent advertising, and online disinformation.
It seeks to regulate “online intermediaries and platforms.” These include “online marketplaces, social networks, content-sharing platforms, app stores, and online travel and accommodation platforms.” In addition, it requires online platforms to moderate content and implements transparency in data collection.
The regulation gives better protection to users, ensures fundamental online rights, establishes transparency and accountability for online platforms, and provides a single framework across the EU.
After the Digital Services Act went into effect on November 16, 2022, online platforms were required to report the number of active end users on their websites by February 17, 2023. Based on these numbers, the European Commission will decide whether a platform should be designated a very large online platform or search engine. Consequently, the entity in question will have four months to complete and submit its first annual risk assessment.
The DSA will be applicable from February 17, 2024, at the latest.
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