{"id":13518,"date":"2023-08-24T14:49:40","date_gmt":"2023-08-24T14:49:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/TheNextWeb=1399238"},"modified":"2023-08-24T14:49:40","modified_gmt":"2023-08-24T14:49:40","slug":"heres-how-the-eus-digital-services-act-changes-the-content-rules-for-big-tech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/?p=13518","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s how the EU\u2019s Digital Services Act changes the content rules for big tech"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The EU\u2019s latest crackdown on big tech<\/a> begins before the end of the week. Starting on Friday, a total of 19 major companies must adhere to the sweeping rules of the Digital Services Act (DSA).<\/p>\n

Essentially, the DSA is a landmark content moderation rulebook, designed to empower and protect users online against harmful or illegal content, disinformation, and the violation of privacy and free speech.<\/p>\n

The tech firms listed<\/a> are not only the first required to comply, but also the ones facing the act\u2019s strictest and most far-reaching measures. That\u2019s because they reach at least 45 million European active users per month, which according to the EU<\/a>, translates to their \u201csignificant societal and economic impact.\u201d<\/p>\n

The legislation will eventually apply to all businesses providing digital services within the bloc, expected to come fully into force in February 2024. Violations could result in fines of up to 6% of their global revenue, or even a temporary ban from the union.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe whole logic of our rules is to ensure that technology serves people and the societies that we live in \u2014 not the other way around,\u201d said Margrethe Vestager, Executive VP of the Commission.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Digital Services Act will bring about meaningful transparency and accountability of platforms and search engines and give consumers more control over their online life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Who\u2019s on the naughty list?<\/h2>\n

Ranging from social media platforms to online marketplaces and search engines, the list so far includes: Facebook, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, Amazon, Booking, AliExpress, Zalando, Google Shopping, Wikipedia, Google Maps, Google and Apple\u2019s mobile app stores, Google\u2019s Search, and Microsoft\u2019s Bing.<\/p>\n

5 key DSA obligations big tech have to follow<\/h2>\n

1. Remove illegal content<\/h4>\n

The designated companies are required to identify and remove any illegal content as defined by laws either at EU or national level from their platforms.<\/p>\n

In the case of online marketplaces, this also means tracing sellers and conducting random checks on existing product databases to ensure protection against counterfeit and dangerous goods or services.<\/p>\n

2. Ban some types of targeted ads<\/h4>\n

The big tech giants can no longer use targeted advertising that\u2019s based on profiling of minors or sensitive personal data<\/a>, such as ethnicity, sexual orientation, or political views.<\/p>\n

3. Increase user empowerment<\/h4>\n

Users will have a set of new rights, such as flagging illegal content, contesting the decisions made by online platforms if their own content is removed, and even seek compensation for any rule breaches. They\u2019ll also be able to receive information about the advertising practices, including if and why an ad targets them specifically with the option to opt out.<\/p>\n

4. Constrain harmful content and disinformation<\/h4>\n

The selected companies will further have to perform an annual risk assessment and take corresponding measures to mitigate disinformation, election manipulation, hoaxes, cyber violence, and harm to vulnerable groups \u2014 while balancing freedom of expression. These measures are also subject to independent audits.<\/p>\n

5. Be transparent<\/h4>\n

In an unprecedented move, the platforms will need to disclose long-guarded information on their data, systems, and algorithms to authorities and vetted researchers. They\u2019ll also have to provide public access to their risk assessment and auditing reports alongside a repository with information about the ads they run.<\/p>\n

\u201cComplying with the DSA is not a punishment \u2013 it is an opportunity for these online platforms to reinforce their brand value and reputation as a trustworthy site,\u201d Commissioner Thierry Breton said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Who has complied so far?<\/h2>\n

In the group of social media, TikTok is introducing an \u201cadditional reporting option<\/a>\u201d for European consumers that allows them to flag illegal content, including advertising. It will further provide them information about its content moderation decisions and allow them to turn off personalisation. Targeted advertising for minors aged 13-17 will stop.<\/p>\n

Snapchat has made similar changes. For instance, personal advertising for minors is no longer allowed and adult users have a higher level of transparency and control on the ads they see. Meanwhile, Meta has launched non-personalised content feeds on Facebook and Instagram.<\/p>\n

Among the online marketplaces, Zalando has introduced content flagging systems on its website, while Amazon has opened a channel for flagging illegal products and is now providing more information about third-party merchants.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, both companies have taken legal action against the EU<\/a>, claiming they have been \u201cunfairly\u201d added to the list.<\/p>\n

The DSA\u2019s potential impact<\/h2>\n

Historically, the rules for data sharing and online content moderation have been determined by big tech.The DSA aims to change that by setting an unprecedented touchstone, much like the EU\u2019s regulatory efforts with the GDPR and the upcoming AI Act.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe European Digital Services Act is trying to respond to online corporate practices that are considered inappropriate by the European Union,\u201d David Frautschy Heredia, Senior Director of European Government and Regulatory Affairs at Internet Society (ISOC) told TNW.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe impact of the act is being closely watched. By nature, corporate organisations operate across jurisdictions, and so their potentially damaging behaviour is not limited to a single region. Moreover, the EU has come to be widely regarded as the benchmark authority for digital regulation and as the example to follow.\u201d<\/p>\n

But as parts of the act and its implementation are still to be defined, experts are also pointing to potential risks.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is of crucial importance to ensure that these new obligations do not have unintended consequences, or they may be inadvertently mirrored across the globe, \u201d Frautschy Heredia noted, adding that misaligned policy could lead to the \u201cfragmentation\u201d of the internet.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Mozilla alongside 66 civil organisations across the globe are urging<\/a> the Commission to ensure that the DSA will not lead to censorship and the violation of fundamental rights.<\/p>\n

Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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