2024-02-17 22:22:13
The new European Union rules, known as the Digital Services Act (DSA), came into effect last year for the biggest tech giants, including Facebook and TikTok, and from today, February 17, will apply to everyone else. companies, with the exception of the smallest, writes France Presse.
When the law was originally proposed in 2020, the aim was simple – to introduce controls in the online space, where Brussels felt that companies were not doing enough to block illegal content or to protect users.
A wave of studies undertaken by the European Commission was to assess how the biggest digital platforms deal with a range of concerns, from consumer protection to the online activity of minors.
So far, the EU has launched formal infringement proceedings against the social network “X” (X), owned by American billionaire Elon Musk, for “illegal content and misinformation”.
Those who break the rules can be fined up to 6 percent of their total annual turnover, or even banned from the EU for serious and repeated violations.
The EU will formally be able to impose sanctions on companies, including fines, for any violations.
Beyond the prospect of fines, according to Alexandre de Streel of the Center for Regulation in Europe (CERRE) think tank, the law ultimately aims to change the culture of digital companies.
The action of the new European legislation will be gradual, nothing will change suddenly, he added and explained: “The aim is not to impose fines, but for the platforms to change their practices.”
The new rules state that digital platforms that, for example, offer shopping services, must act quickly and stop the sale of fake products and block repeat fraud.
The EU also bans targeted advertising to children and seeks to make it easier for users to report illegal content, complain and seek redress for policy violations.
Responsibility for controlling digital companies will be shared between the EC, with its team of more than 120 experts, and EU member states.
The EC will oversee the biggest platforms, but countries will have to create “digital service coordinators” to oversee smaller companies.
Digital companies with fewer than 50 employees and a turnover of less than 10 million euros ($10.8 million) will be exempt from the most stringent rules.
EU rules on digital giants came into force in August and covered “very large” global companies such as Google, Facebook, TikTok, Amazon and Apple. The EU believes that the size and scope of influence of such companies means that they have greater responsibilities to address risks to consumers.
The 22 platforms facing tougher rules also include Booking.com, Instagram, Snapchat, as well as three major porn sites.
They are required to be more transparent by providing access to be audited as well as publishing annual risk assessments at their expense.
The new law has already caused some controversy. Amazon and German online fashion retailer Zalando dispute their designation as “very large” companies. Meta and TikTok also dispute the fees they must pay to EU regulators tasked with enforcing tough new rules on content moderation.
Meta paid about 11 million euros, and TikTok declined to say how much.
Against this background, Google told Reuters that the company is planning a campaign to combat disinformation in five EU countries.
Starting this spring, the company’s internal unit, which works to tackle public threats, will run a series of animated ads on platforms such as TikTok and YouTube in five EU countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Poland.