The Digital Services Act (DSA) is an EU law designed to govern online platforms and “intermediaries,” such as social media platforms, search engines, app stores, or online marketplaces, aiming to increase transparency by mandating reporting from tech companies and increasing greater accountability regarding online operations. DSA aims to address online harms such as harassment or disinformation and applies to all EU member states.
The Digital Services Act also seeks to create a unified approach to smooth operations for online platforms by establishing standard rules and responsibilities through regulatory standards. Additional rules apply to platforms classified as “very large” (for example, those with more than 45 million monthly EU users). This regulation takes full effect across the EU states starting February 17, 2024.