The European Digital Services Act package (DSA)
The Digital Services Act package was announced by the European Commission as a part and oarcel of the European Digital Strategy. The aim of the measure is to strengthen the Single Market for digital services and foster innovation and competitiveness of the European online environment. The new Digital Services Act package should modernise the current legal framework for digital services by means of two main pillars:
First, the Commission would propose clear rules framing the responsibilities of digital services to address the risks faced by their users and to protect their rights. The legal obligations would ensure a modern system of cooperation for the supervision of platforms and guarantee effective enforcement.
Second, the Digital Services Act package would propose ex ante rules covering large online platforms acting as gatekeepers, which now set the rules of the game for their users and their competitors. The act should ensure that those platforms behave fairly and can be challenged by new entrants and existing competitors.
In addition to declaring its ambitious goals the Commission has also initiated a public consultation to support the work in analysing and collecting evidence for identifying specific issues that may require an EU-level intervention. The Commission is also taking the opportunity to consult on other emerging problems related to online platforms, such as the opportunities and challenges that self-employed people face in providing services through online platforms.All European and non-European citizens and organisations were welcome to contribute to this vast process. The consultation was open until 8 September 2020. It covered such areas as safety online, freedom of expression, fairness and a level-playing field in the digital economy. It is apparent Europe needs a regulatory framework that can reduce the ever increasing regulatory fragmentation across Member States and ensure better online and offline protection. Last but not least all European businesses demand a level playing field to innovate, grow and compete globally.
Compiled by Media 21 from:
https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/digital-services-act-package
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_20_962
