15 November 2023, Brussels, Belgium –On 16 November 2022, the Digital Services Act (DSA) entered into force. To mark the 1st anniversary since its entry into force, DOT Europe – representing leading internet companies in Europe, urges policy makes for “time and patience”.
Scheduled for full implementation in mid-February 2024, the DSA intended to create a unified, secure online experience while avoiding fragmented national regulations. DOT Europe is increasingly concerned over hasty introduction of new proposals that risk reinterpreting the fundamental mechanisms of the DSA. These concerns stem from recent legislative propositions that directly intersect with the core principles of the DSA, such as the proposed EMFA, Political Advertising, CSAM, and AI Act. To concretely demonstrate the concerns, DOT Europe has created DSA Report Cards. They will be delivered to prominent DSA policymakers on the occasion of its anniversary to score legislative proposals on how closely they align with the DSA.
“The European Union’s unique approach taken with the DSA, emphasizes co-regulation: regulatory frameworks are established by the EU, and the tech industry is tasked with formulating rules for implementation and enforcement. This collaborative model demands both time and adaptability for effective execution, “ says Siada El Ramly, Director General DOT Europe. “The DSA embodies a pioneering method to address the fast-evolving technological landscape, ensuring a harmonized, safe digital space. It is crucial to allow both regulators and the industry sufficient time to adapt and implement the DSA’s mechanisms effectively”, El Ramly continued.
Key “areas of improvement” on the report cards, include proposed exemptions for media content in the EMFA, rigid timelines for content takedown in Political Advertising, monitoring implications in the CSAM regulation, and intersecting regulations in the AI Act, all of which risk eroding the comprehensive framework of the DSA.
“There is a legitimate fear that overlapping legislation may reinterpret the fundamentals of the DSA and hamper the very potential the DSA offers,” highlights El Ramly. “New regulations targeting online platforms on vertical issues must not compromise this pivotal, horizontal framework.”
With the DSA report cards, DOT Europe is sending a clear message to policy makers asking for caution and emphasizing the importance of allowing the DSA to unfold before introducing further, potentially conflicting, legislation. The call is to provide ample time for enforcement bodies to recruit experts, companies to enact compliance measures, and major online platforms to implement risk mitigation strategies.
ENDS
For more information from DOT Europe contact:
+32(0) 472 26 83 02
About DOT Europe:
DOT Europe (previously called EDiMA) is the voice of the leading internet companies in Europe. DOT Europe’s mission is to develop ideas and support policy initiatives that foster an innovative, open and safe internet for Europe’s citizens and businesses. More information is available here: https://doteurope.eu/
DOT Europe represents 22 of the leading internet companies: Airbnb, Amazon, Apple, Discord, Dropbox, eBay, Etsy, Expedia Group, Google, Indeed, King, Meta, Microsoft, Mozilla, Nextdoor, OLX, Shopify, Snap, Spotify, TikTok, Twitter, Yahoo.
Its members produce and manage a variety of products, services and applications including browsers, entertainment platforms, social networks, marketplaces and review sites. More information is available here: https://doteurope.eu/members
