The European Union (EU) Digital Services Act (DSA) comes into force on Friday, introducing compelling changes for social media giants like Google, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
These platforms are now required to implement more rigorous actions against posts containing false information and hate speech or face substantial fines.
This law constitutes a crucial component of the EU’s legal arsenal, aiming to enforce compliance and regulation in the online sphere. The Digital Services Law imposes stricter content monitoring on companies, aiming to safeguard internet users from false information and hate speech.
Failure to adhere to these regulations could result in substantial financial penalties.
As of the effective date, all eyes turn towards the compliance strategies adopted by these platforms and how this law will reshape the digital landscape in Europe. Experts anticipate that this legislation might trigger ripple effects beyond the EU bloc.
According to Susan Verniolle, a technology law professor at the National Institute of Arts and Crafts in Paris, “The Digital Services Law is part of a larger strategy to empower individuals, regulatory bodies, and civil society with increased authority.”
She further elucidated to Agence France-Presse that this law represents “an additional step towards enhanced accountability.”
Under the DSA, websites with at least 45 million monthly active users are obligated to adhere to more stringent rules, including effective measures against false information.
In April, the EU named 19 platforms subject to the new law, including prominent names like Amazon Store, Apple Store, Google Play, Zalando, in addition to major social media platforms such as Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, and Twitter (currently X).
Meanwhile, the regulation will closely monitor the actions of platform X, particularly since billionaire Elon Musk acquired Twitter last year. Musk’s decisions regarding content have raised concerns about compliance.
