The comprehensive Digital Services Act of the European Union imposes new regulations on content moderation, user privacy, and transparency, subjecting more than dozens of the largest tech companies in the world to intense scrutiny.
In the EU, a number of internet giants, including Meta’s Facebook and Instagram platforms, Apple’s online App Store, and a few Google services, will be subject to new regulations starting on Friday.
These regulations include preventing the spread of harmful content, banning or restricting certain user-targeting techniques, and sharing some internal data with regulators and related researchers.
With other comprehensive pieces of legislation, including the Digital Markets Act and the AI Act, on the horizon, the EU is regarded as the global leader in digital regulation.
The introduction of comparable laws will be influenced by the bloc’s effectiveness in putting these laws into effect.
Researchers have questioned whether these businesses have gone far enough to live up to the standards of the law.
Only 19 of the biggest online sites, those with more than 45 million EU users, are currently subject to the regulations. But starting in mid-February, they will be applicable to all online outlets, regardless of size.
Any company found to be in violation of the DSA faces a fine of up to 6% of its annual global revenue, and repeat offenders risk being completely barred from doing business in Europe.
