{"id":2594,"date":"2023-01-18T15:54:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-18T21:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trustarc.com\/?post_type=resource&p=2594"},"modified":"2024-10-10T11:30:03","modified_gmt":"2024-10-10T17:30:03","slug":"digital-services-act","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/trustarc.com\/resource\/digital-services-act\/","title":{"rendered":"The Digital Services Act: What to Expect"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The Digital Services Act: What to Expect<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\t
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What is the Digital Services Act?<\/h2>\n

The\u00a0Digital Services Act<\/a>\u00a0(DSA) is one of two regulations proposed by the European Commission in 2020 to provide a fairer, safer, and more open playing field in digital spaces across the EU.<\/p>\n

It sets out new\u00a0standards for online accountability when it comes to illegal and harmful content<\/strong>. It also imposes rules around how platforms moderate content, advertise, and use algorithmic processes. In essence, it\u2019s making the internal processes of online platforms more transparent while allowing for more informed business decisions.<\/p>\n

The DSA\u00a0is only one piece of the EU\u2019s digital strategy puzzle known as \u201cA Europe fit for the Digital Age<\/a>.\u201d\u00a0In addition, this strategy includes a series of legislations under the\u00a0Digital Marketing Act<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0Data Governance Act<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Together, they\u00a0provide clearer and more standardized rules relating to consumer protection in the online environment and regulate how digital businesses comply with these rules. They also provide enhanced opportunities for digital businesses on a more level playing field.<\/p>\n

The DSA comes in the wake of increased cyberbullying, hate speech, illegal content, and other harms committed online. It places responsibility firmly on digital service providers, big and small, to moderate content across the EU market.\u00a0Companies must consider content removal and be proactive and transparent in moderation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

What does the DSA regulate?<\/h2>\n

The DSA regulates how platforms moderate content, how they\u00a0remove illegal content \u2013 such as counterfeited and hazardous products \u2013 quickly, and how they crack down on users who spread misinformation.\u00a0It also\u00a0regulates how platforms advertise\u00a0and how they use algorithms for recommendation systems.<\/p>\n

The latter may have considerable implications for so-called \u201cgatekeeper\u201d companies.\u00a0Gatekeepers<\/strong>\u00a0are large online platforms that act as a major gateway between businesses and consumers. Among the platforms that fall into the gatekeeper category are\u00a0Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple and Microsoft.<\/p>\n

Under the DSA,\u00a0they\u00a0<\/strong>will be forced to show how their algorithms work in the EU.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Who does the DSA impact?<\/h2>\n

The DSA\u00a0defines digital services<\/strong>\u00a0as\u00a0a large category of online services, from simple websites to internet infrastructure services and online platforms<\/em>. This means the legislation applies to all platforms operating within the EU, big and small, and regardless of where the business was established.<\/p>\n

Some of the types of digital services subject to the DSA legislation include:<\/p>\n