Big tech companies scrabble to meet EU’s stringent Digital Services Act (DSA)
Big tech companies will now have to comply with stringent rules under the new EU Digital Services Act (DSA) or risk significant fines.
The DSA is designed to protect users and create safe, regulated and secure platforms.
Social media sites are under the greatest pressure as they will have to meet “extra requirements”.
TikTok, Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram need to protect minors as well as identify and scrub different forms of illegal content.
These platforms will also have to continually assess risks, report on them and come up with ways to combat ongoing problems.
In the US, the requirement to clamp down on threats to the electoral process will be especially challenging with the next Presidential election on the horizon in 2024.
Social media platforms will also need to divulge details about how their algorithms work with regulators.
Complying with the DSA has already caused headaches for big tech.
The DSA says any platform with 45m+ users will have to meet the most stringent rules.
Meta and TikTok have revealed that they have around 1,000 employees working diligently to meet the new rules, which came into force on 25 April in the EU.
Companies operating on the continent and the UK are forced to comply.
The UK is currently drafting its own UK Online Safety Bill, which has been controversial.
Wikimedia Foundation’s Phil Bradley-Schmeig believes the DSA should form the basis for the UK’s legislation.
He noted: “Our hope is that lawmakers emulate the DSA; understand the diverse internet ecosystem; and protect safe, free, and public projects online. “