Digital Services Act

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The Digital Services Act (DSA), a legislative package proposed by the European Union, aims to modernize the legal framework for addressing illicit content online and unify laws across EU nations. The DSA is primarily concerned with promoting transparency in advertising^[1], tackling misinformation, and dealing with illegal content. It sets forth guidelines for online platforms to maintain transparency, implements strategies to fight illicit content, and underscores the importance of enhanced user safety. The DSA additionally holds digital intermediaries responsible for their conduct and fosters collaboration between these bodies and authorities. The DSA’s objective is to lessen the dominance of digital gatekeepers like Google^[2] and Meta, fostering a more regulated digital sphere. The Act also endorses data sharing within the EU, further advancing a unified data market within Europe. The DSA is viewed as a crucial step in regulating Big Tech firms, and its enforcement could shape global digital regulations.

Terms definitions

1. ↑ advertising. Promoting a product or service through communication, also known as advertising, aims to inform or persuade a target audience. Its roots trace back to early civilizations where sales messages were inscribed on Egyptian papyrus, and wall murals were utilized for promotional purposes across ancient Asia, Africa, and South America. Over the centuries, advertising has adapted to technological advancements and the rise of mass media, transitioning from newspaper prints to audio-visual and digital platforms. The strategies employed in advertising vary, with some focusing on raising awareness or boosting sales, targeting different demographics at a local, national, or international level. Common methods encompass print, radio, web banners, and television commercials, among others. Modern advertising models have introduced innovative trends like guerrilla marketing and interactive advertisements. Women's contribution to advertising is significant, with their perspectives highly valued due to their influential purchasing power.

2. ↑ Google ( Google ) Primarily acknowledged for its search engine, Google is a universally esteemed technology corporation. The company, established in 1998 by Sergey Brin and Larry Page, has expanded significantly, branching out into numerous tech-related fields. Google offers a wide array of services and products, encompassing Android, YouTube, Cloud, Maps, and Gmail. It also manufactures hardware like Chromebooks and Pixel smartphones. Since 2015, Google has been a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. and is celebrated for its inventive spirit and workplace environment that promotes employees' personal projects. Despite confronting several ethical and legal challenges, Google continues to influence the tech sector with its groundbreaking innovations and technological progress, including the creation of Android OS and the purchase of companies specializing in AI.

Digital Services Act (Wikipedia)

The Digital Services Act Regulation 2022 (EU) 2022/2065 ("DSA") is a regulation in EU law to update the Electronic Commerce Directive 2000 regarding illegal content, transparent advertising, and disinformation. It was submitted along with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) by the European Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on 15 December 2020. The DSA was prepared by the Executive Vice President of the European Commission for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age Margrethe Vestager and by the European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton, as members of the Von der Leyen Commission.

Regulation (EU) 2022/2065
History
European Union regulation
Text with EEA relevance

Title	Regulation on a Single Market For Digital Services
Made by	European Parliament and Council of the European Union
Journal reference	OJ L 277, 27.10.2022, p. 1–102
Date made	19 October 2022
Preparative texts
Commission proposal	COM/2020/825 final
Current legislation

On 22 April 2022, European policymakers reached an agreement on the Digital Services Act. The European Parliament approved the DSA along with the Digital Markets Act on 5 July 2022. On 4 October 2022, the European Council gave its final approval to the Regulation on a Digital Services Act. It was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 19 October 2022. Affected service providers had until 1 January 2024 to comply with its provisions. Popular online platforms and search engines need to comply with their obligations four months after they have been designated as such by the EU Commission.

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