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Why will the new EU law become a weathervane for global digital platforms?
With the rapid development of digital technology, the Digital Services Act (DSA) passed by the European Union in 2022 has attracted global attention. The bill not only aims to regulate digital platforms within the EU, but may also set new standards for its external market. The launch of DSA is considered a key measure to deal with illegal content, transparent advertising and false information on the Internet, and may become a benchmark for global digital platform policies.
The purpose of the DSA is to modernize the 2000 Electronic Commerce Directive and harmonize the legal norms of EU member states in dealing with illegal content.
DSA’s main targets are intermediary platforms such as social media, online markets and app stores. Under the new rules, the platforms must disclose to regulators how their algorithms work and be responsible for explaining the decision-making process for content moderation, a level of transparency that was lacking in previous laws. More importantly, the law requires stricter regulations when it comes to "very large" online platforms and search engines with more than 45 million monthly active users.
Core requirements of DSA
The core requirements of DSA not only emphasize the responsibilities of intermediaries, but also clearly regulate the way content is managed. This bill divides the liability of intermediaries into conditional immunity, which is in sharp contrast to the US "Section 230 Act". Under the DSA framework, intermediaries may still be held legally responsible if they do not take action to boycott or delete content deemed illegal after being notified.
Platforms under the new law will have to face extensive inspection requirements and be held accountable for the transparency of their operations.
International impact and future prospects
The promulgation of DSA will not only affect the platforms of EU countries, but is also likely to have a profound impact on global technology companies and policies. Many international platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube comply with DSA regulations and may adjust their global operating strategies accordingly. To a certain extent, this trend can prompt policymakers in other regions to refer to the EU's practices and make corresponding legal adjustments.
Legislative Process and Challenges
The birth of DSA went through a long legislative process. After public consultation and lengthy negotiations, the legislation was finally completed and entered into force in 2022. While the bill is supported by many in the media and liberal rights groups, it also faces fierce opposition from technology companies. They questioned that some of the bill's provisions were too cumbersome and could stifle innovation and free speech.
The passage of DSA is considered a landmark event with the potential to set new standards for global digital platforms.
Reactions from society and businesses
Reactions to the DSA have also been divided, with some groups such as Human Rights Watch and the Electronic Frontier Foundation praising its emphasis on transparency and user relief. However, companies are generally concerned about the legal compliance costs and blame the new regulations for increasing their burden, which may affect their position in the digital market.
It should be noted that the impact of DSA is not limited to Europe. In the context of global digitalization, other countries may consider similar policies and regulations based on the case of DSA.
Conclusion
In general, the implementation of the "Digital Services Act" marks an important step for the EU in the regulation of digital space. It remains to be seen how it will develop in the future and whether it can truly balance the contradiction between supervision and innovation. And how will this new bill affect the operation of global digital platforms and change our digital lives? It makes people think deeply.
