Nuked Hey there, my tech-savvy followers! Today, we’re diving into the exciting world of the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA). Brace yourselves for some major changes in the tech giant landscape, as this new legislation holds online platforms accountable for the content they host. So, let’s break it down and see what this means for us.
The DSA has one primary goal: to create safer online environments. Online platforms now have a responsibility to prevent and remove illegal content, goods, and services. They must also provide users with a way to report such content. But that’s not all! The DSA also takes a stand against targeted advertising based on factors like sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, or political beliefs. It even puts restrictions on advertising to children. Transparency is key too, as online platforms must now provide more information on how their algorithms work.
Now, let’s talk about the big players affected by this legislation. The EU has identified 19 platforms and search engines as “very large online platforms” with over 45 million monthly users in the EU. We’re talking about familiar names like Google, Facebook, Amazon, and more. These platforms will need to update their user numbers every six months. If they fall below the threshold for an entire year, they’ll be removed from the list.
So, how are these platforms planning to comply with the DSA? Let’s take a quick look at some of the notable efforts:
Google is expanding its Ads Transparency Center to meet the DSA requirements. It will also provide researchers with more data access to shed light on how its various services work in practice.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is expanding its Ad Library to include all ads targeting EU users. It will also offer more transparency on how its algorithms work and allow users to view content chronologically without personalization.
TikTok is making its algorithm optional for EU users, giving them a broader range of content. It’s also implementing changes to its advertising policies, such as stopping personalized ads for users aged 13 to 17.
Snapchat is giving EU users the option to opt out of personalized feeds and providing more information on why posts or accounts are removed. It will also create an archive of targeted advertisements shown in the EU.
Now, what happens if these platforms refuse to comply? Well, they could face fines of up to 6 percent of their global turnover. The Digital Services Coordinator and the EU Commission have the power to take immediate action against serious harms. In extreme cases, a platform could even face temporary suspension in the EU.
However, it’s worth noting that some companies are already pushing back on the DSA. Amazon has filed a petition asking for a reevaluation of its classification as a very large online platform. German retailer Zalando has also filed a lawsuit against the EU Commission, claiming it doesn’t meet the definition of a very large online platform.
And that’s a wrap on the EU’s Digital Services Act! It’s an ambitious move to create safer online spaces and hold tech giants accountable. Let’s keep an eye on how these platforms adapt and evolve in response to this new legislation. Stay tuned for more tech updates, my awesome followers!
