London, UK: The European Union’s (EU) Digital Services Act (DSA) will enact a new law that affects content moderation, user privacy, and transparency, which big tech giants must follow.
Tech companies operating in the European Union are currently dealing with one of the most extensive initiatives to improve online content and experiences.
Internet giants, including Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, Apple’s online App Store, and select Google services, are adhering to new regulations in the EU. These rules include preventing the spread of harmful content, restricting specific user-targeting practices, and sharing certain internal data with regulators and affiliated researchers.
These regulations are now limited to the 19 largest online platforms, those with over 45 million users in the EU. But starting in mid-February 2024, they will apply to a wide range of online platforms, regardless of their size.
According to the regulations, the largest platforms must identify and evaluate potential systemic risks and determine if they are taking adequate measures to combat them. These risk assessments are required to be completed by the end of August 2023 and will undergo independent audits.
Among the 19 platforms covered, social media sites including Facebook, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Snapchat are included. Online marketplaces such as Amazon, Booking.com, Alibaba, AliExpress, and Germany’s Zalando are part of the list.
Mobile app stores like Google Play and Apple’s App Store fall under these regulations, along with Google’s Search and Microsoft’s Bing search engine. Google Maps and Wikipedia complete the lineup.
Companies found violating the DSA could be fined up to 6 percent of their global revenue, and repeat offenders may even face being barred from operating in Europe.
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