First article in a mini-series on the Digital Services Act: the groundbreaking EU regulation on the online environment now applies to all online platforms
On February 17, 2024, a key set of EU rules came into effect, which aim to comprehensively and efficiently regulate the functioning of the online environment within the EU. This is the Digital Services Act[1], known by its English abbreviation "DSA". Thanks to the DSA, the online environment is intended to become safer, more transparent, and fairer for intermediaries as well.
The Digital Services Act entered into force on November 16, 2022, and as of February 17, 2024, it applies to all online platforms in the EU.
The Digital Services Act aims to effectively regulate the digital environment within the European Union, responding to new threats emerging in the online environment, especially concerning everyday internet users.
Are you wondering:
- Who does this European regulation impact?
- What obligations does the regulation impose on individual participants in the online environment?
- Are there any sanctions associated with the Digital Services Act?
- Am I a obligated person under the Digital Services Act?
Or are you:
- A mediation service,
- A hosting service,
- An online platform/marketplace, or
- A very large online platform or search engine?
Then follow our posts, in which we will provide brief and understandable answers to these and many other questions related to the adoption of the Digital Services Act.
Although the DSA already entered into force on 17 February 2024, it is still not too late to take appropriate measures to ensure compliance with the DSA. Such measures can include an internal audit with the final finding that DSA does not affect you.
Just like in the case of GDPR, only exceptions were prepared for this new legal regulation before its effectiveness. Therefore, do not hesitate to contact us so that we can help you assess the possible impacts of the DSA on your business and potentially take appropriate measures to meet all obligations imposed by the regulation as soon as possible.
In the upcoming posts, we will briefly and clearly introduce the groups of obliged entities according to the DSA, including the key obligations that apply to them. At the same time, we will introduce you to the impact that DSA has on all of us in the context of daily functioning in the online environment.
[1] Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the single market for digital services (Digital Services Act) and amending Directive 2000/31/EC.