7 Things You Need To Know About The Digital Services Act (DSA)
The EU Commission announced recently that Parliament and Member States had come to a “swift political agreement” on the proposed Digital Services Act (DSA).
The DSA aims to protect internet users by establishing an “unprecedented new standard” for online platforms that will see companies such as Google, Meta (Facebook), and Twitter held accountable for illegal and harmful content.
What’s more, the DSA will force online platforms to share how their algorithms work, put processes in place to remove illegal goods and content quickly, and crack down on users who spread misinformation.
Just what is the Digital Services Act, when does it come into effect, and what does it mean for platforms and the people who use them – including digital marketers?
1. What Is The Digital Services Act?
At present, the DSA is a proposed piece of legislation that the EU Commission first brought forward on December 15, 2020.
That proposal came with two associated proposals. In that first announcement, the Commission stated.
What Does This Mean For Online Advertising?
The gatekeeping of large online platforms has become problematic in that it hampers competition and leaves SMEs and startups at a disadvantage, the Commission reports.
Small businesses and organizations are dependent on large platforms for the moderation of communications and content rankings.
Because gatekeeper platforms such as Google and Facebook hold the keys to accessing the consumer data generated by these activities, SMEs and startups end up in direct competition with gatekeepers who use their data to serve their own interests (such as selling targeting back to those very SMEs).
The DSA will partially level the playing field by making the internal workings of advertising and ranking algorithms more transparent.
Meanwhile, its sister legislation, the Digital Markets Act, will compel gatekeeper platforms to give small businesses access to certain data.
The Commission promises that these two acts will ensure a safer, more accountable online environment for all.
