Online Platforms Face Stricter Regulations to Ensure User Safety and Transparency
LONDON — The European Union is taking a decisive step towards creating a safer and more transparent online environment by expanding its strict digital rulebook. Starting Saturday, almost all online platforms in the EU will be subject to the regulations, as the bloc seeks to crack down on toxic social media content and counterfeit or unsafe ecommerce products.
The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which has already been implemented for major platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Amazon, and Wikipedia, imposes rigorous requirements to protect internet users. This includes easier reporting of harmful or illegal content, such as hate speech, as well as a ban on targeted ads towards children.
The next phase of the DSA will extend these rules to nearly all online platforms, marketplaces, and intermediaries operating within the 27-nation bloc. Only small businesses, with fewer than 50 employees and annual revenue below 10 million euros ($11 million), will be exempted. This means that thousands more websites, including popular ones like eBay and OnlyFans, could fall under the regulatory framework.
“Users, Member States, and platforms can now utilize the tools provided by the DSA to shape a safer and more transparent online world,” emphasized Margrethe Vestager, European Commission Executive Vice President, in a press release. “This milestone reflects our fundamental EU values and principles.”
Under the DSA, platforms will also be required to enhance transparency regarding digital advertising. This includes informing users why they are being shown specific ads and who is behind the funding. Furthermore, platforms are prohibited from targeting users based on sensitive data such as political or religious beliefs and sexual preferences.
Content moderation decisions will also be subject to scrutiny, as platforms will be obligated to explain why a post was taken down or an account suspended. The EU has already initiated an investigation into Elon Musk’s social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, over possible infringements of the DSA provisions, particularly concerning the spread of illegal content.
The EU’s expansion of the digital rulebook signifies a significant stride towards a safer and more accountable online sphere, aligning with the bloc’s commitment to upholding its fundamental values and principles.