Digital Services Act (DSA)
What does Digital Services Act mean?
The DSA is an EU regulation (effective 2022; widely applicable from 2024) that sets horizontal rules for online intermediaries and platforms covering transparency, safety, and accountability.
How does the DSA work?
Obligations scale by service type and size:
- All services: Notice-and-action for illegal content, transparency reports, contact points.
- Hosts: Act on illegal content and provide statements of reasons.
- Online platforms: Complaint handling, ad transparency, and prohibitions on dark patterns.
- VLOPs/VLOSEs: Annual risk assessments, independent audits, researcher data access, and compliance officers.
## **Why is it important?**
The DSA reshapes platform governance across the EU, emphasizing user choice, ad transparency, and safer design.
FAQs about the DSA
Yes, but duties are proportionate. Baseline obligations still apply.
GDPR covers personal data; DSA addresses platform conduct, transparency, and content processes.
Certain manipulative designs are prohibited, particularly those that nudge users unfairly.
Fines can reach 6% of global annual turnover; persistent violations may trigger stronger remedies.
The European Commission supervises VLOPs/VLOSEs; national Digital Services Coordinators oversee others.