Proposal for a Regulation on a Single Market For Digital Services (Digital Services Act) and amending Directive 2000/31/EC

Summary:

Legislative initiative tabled by the European Commission on 15 December 2020, setting up a framework for regulating digital services in the European Union (EU). It introduces a number of amendments to Directive 2000/31/EC, also known as e-Commerce Directive. This is a text with EEA relevance.

Further information:

Since the adoption of Directive 2000/31/EC, new and innovative digital services emerged, shaping and transforming how citizens communicate, connect, consume and do business. The use of those services also became the source of new risks and challenges, both for societies and individuals. In its Communication on Shaping Europe's Digital Future, the Commission committed to updating the horizontal rules that define the responsibilities and obligations of providers of digital services, and online platforms in particular.

Building on the key principles set out in the e-Commerce Directive, this proposal seeks to ensure the best conditions for the provision of innovative digital services in the internal market, to contribute to online safety and the protection of fundamental rights, and to set a robust and durable governance structure for the effective supervision of providers of intermediary services.

The draft law was tabled by the European Commission on 15 December 2020 as part of the so-called a legislative package which also included the proposed Digital Markets Act (DMA). The Council of the European Union adopted its negotiating position on 25 November 2021. The plenary of the European Parliament adopted a negotiating position on 20 January 2022.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

Fieldfisher: Services: Digital Services Act https://www.fieldfisher.com/en/services/privacy-security-and-information/digital-services-act-bite-size-webinar-series

University of Amsterdam: Institute for Information Law (IViR): Official Website of DSA Observatory https://dsa-observatory.eu/

Verfassungsblog: Debates: To Break Up or Regulate Big Tech? Avenues to Constrain Private Power in the DSA/DMA Package https://verfassungsblog.de/category/debates/power-dsa-dma/

Wolters Kluwer: Competition Law Blog: Categories: Digital Services Act http://competitionlawblog.kluwercompetitionlaw.com/category/digital-services-act/

Heinrich Böll Foundation: Tags: Digital Services Act (DSA) https://eu.boell.org/en/tags/digital-services-act-dsa?dimension1=zora2021

Wikipedia: Digital Services Act https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Services_Act

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer: Our Thinking, 10/11/2020: The Digital Services Act – a liability regime for user content for the next twenty years? https://digital.freshfields.com/post/102gjun/the-digital-services-act-a-liability-regime-for-user-content-for-the-next-twent

EFF, 15/12/2020: European Commission’s Proposed Digital Services Act Got Several Things Right, But Improvements Are Necessary to Put Users in Control https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/12/european-commissions-proposed-regulations-require-platforms-let-users-appeal

TIME, 15/12/2020: How the E.U's Sweeping New Regulations Against Big Tech Could Have an Impact Beyond Europe https://time.com/5921760/europe-digital-services-act-big-tech/

EU Law Analysis, 16/12/2020: Overview of Digital Services Act http://eulawanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/12/overview-of-digital-services-act.html

Bruegel: Podcast, 16/12/2020: The new EU digital regulations: Explained https://www.bruegel.org/2020/12/the-new-eu-digital-regulations-explained/

Pinsent Masons: News, 17/12/2020: Intermediaries the focus of EU Digital Services Act https://www.pinsentmasons.com/out-law/news/intermediaries-focus-of-eu-digital-services-act

TechUK: Insights, 17/12/2020: European Commission publishes Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act https://www.techuk.org/resource/european-commission-publishes-digital-services-act-and-digital-markets-act.html

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer: Our Thinking, 17/12/2020: The Digital Services Act – taking (more) responsibility https://digital.freshfields.com/post/102gm78/the-digital-services-act-taking-more-responsibility

EIBF: Press Release, 18/12/2020: EIBF welcomes the European Commission's Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act https://europeanbooksellers.eu/press/eibf-welcomes-european-commissions-digital-services-act-and-digital-markets-act

IFLA: Blogs, 18/12/2020: European Commission releases key proposals: Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act https://blogs.ifla.org/lpa/2020/12/18/european-commission-releases-key-proposals-digital-services-act-and-digital-markets-act/

Noerr: Newsroom, 22/12/2020: The ‘Digital Services Act’ package - Europe’s response to the power of big tech companies? https://www.noerr.com/en/newsroom/news/thedigitalservicesactpackage

Verfassungsblog, 04/01/2021: A first impression of regulatory powers in the Digital Services Act https://verfassungsblog.de/regulatory-powers-dsa/

Brookings Institution: Blog, 06/01/2021: Four lessons for U.S. legislators from the EU Digital Services Act https://www.brookings.edu/blog/techtank/2021/01/06/four-lessons-for-u-s-legislators-from-the-eu-digital-services-act/

Fieldfisher: Insights, 12/01/2021: The Digital Services Act - Transforming the delivery of online services through EU regulation https://www.fieldfisher.com/en/services/technology-outsourcing-and-privacy/technology-and-outsourcing-blog/the-digital-services-act

KU Leuven: CiTiP Blog, 14/01/2021: The Good Samaritan that wasn’t: voluntary monitoring under the (draft) Digital Services Act https://www.law.kuleuven.be/citip/blog/the-good-samaritan-that-wasnt/

Brookings Institution: Blog, 15/01/2021: Platform data access is a lynchpin of the EU’s Digital Services Act https://www.brookings.edu/blog/techtank/2021/01/15/platform-data-access-is-a-lynchpin-of-the-eus-digital-services-act/

RTÉ Brainstorm, 05/02/2021: How will the EU's new act deal with online lies and fake news? https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2021/0205/1195244-eu-digital-services-act-disinformation-fake-news/

Media Laws, 08/02/2021: The Digital Services Act: a Silver Bullet to Fight Disinformation? http://www.medialaws.eu/verso-il-digital-services-act-the-digital-services-act-a-silver-bullet-to-fight-disinformation/

Article19: Resources, 11/02/2021: At a glance: Does the EU Digital Services Act protect freedom of expression? https://www.article19.org/resources/does-the-digital-services-act-protect-freedom-of-expression/

Center for Data Innovation: Commentary, 18/02/2021: The EU’s Digital Services Act Should Not Have Separate Rules for Large Platforms https://datainnovation.org/2021/02/the-eus-digital-services-act-should-not-have-separate-rules-for-large-platforms/

EPRS: Briefing, March 2021: Digital services act https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2021)689357

Maastricht University: Blog, 08/03/2021: The Digital Services Act and freedom of expression: triumph or failure? https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/blog/2021/03/digital-services-act-and-freedom-expression-triumph-or-failure

Amnesty International: News, 30/03/2021: Amnesty International Position on the Proposals for a Digital Services Act and a Digital Markets Act https://www.amnesty.eu/news/amnesty-international-position-on-the-proposals-for-a-digital-services-act-and-a-digital-markets-act/

Social Europe, 09/04/2021: Taming the Big Tech tiger https://socialeurope.eu/taming-the-big-tech-tiger

CMS Law-Now: eAlerts, 12/04/2021: EU Digital Services Act gives new legal framework for platform economy https://www.cms-lawnow.com/ealerts/2021/04/eu-digital-services-act-gives-new-legal-framework-for-platform-economy

DLA Piper: Insights, 15/04/2021: Digital Services Act: EDPS's opinion and public consultation https://www.dlapiper.com/en/uk/insights/publications/2021/04/digital-services-act/

GSMA Europe: Resources, 26/04/2021: Digital Services Act: Joint Position Paper by the GSMA and ETNO https://www.gsma.com/gsmaeurope/resources/dsa_2021/

Mozilla: Blog, 18/05/2021: Mozilla publishes position paper on EU Digital Services Act https://blog.mozilla.org/netpolicy/2021/05/18/mozilla-publishes-position-paper-on-eu-digital-services-act/

Article19: Resources, 21/05/2021: EU: Due diligence obligations in the proposed Digital Services Act https://www.article19.org/resources/eu-due-diligence-obligations-in-the-proposed-digital-services-act/

Open Access Government: News, 07/06/2021: The Digital Services Act is tiptoeing towards regulatory failure https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/digital-services-act/112311/

Twitter: Blog, 23/06/2021: Digital Services Act: Defending the Open Internet https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/company/2021/the-digital-services-act--defending-the-digital-single-market

Atlantic Council: New Atlanticist Blog, 25/06/2021: Behind the European Union’s plan to rewrite the rules of online life https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/behind-the-european-unions-plan-to-rewrite-the-rules-of-online-life/

Amazon: Blog, 25/06/2021: Digital Services Act Expert Panel – European Parliament Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) https://blog.aboutamazon.eu/policy/digital-services-act-expert-panel-european-parliament-committee-on-internal-market-and-consumer-protection-imco

Stiftung Neue Verantwortung (SNV): Events, 09/07/2021: New EU-rules for Big Tech: How to improve the Digital Services Act. Background Discussion https://www.stiftung-nv.de/en/event/new-eu-rules-big-tech-how-improve-digital-services-act

EU DisinfoLab: Advocacy, 31/08/2021: Open Letter to EU Policy-Makers: How the Digital Services Act (DSA) can Tackle Disinformation https://www.disinfo.eu/advocacy/open-letter-to-eu-policy-makers-how-the-digital-services-act-dsa-can-tackle-disinformation/

European Broadcasting Union (EBU): News, 27/09/2021: EBU welcomes important amendment to the Digital Services Act https://www.ebu.ch/news/2021/09/ebu-welcomes-important-amendment-to-the-digital-services-act

SciencesPo: Blog, 02/10/2021: Digital Services Act: Will the EU Draw Lessons from the GDPR? https://www.sciencespo.fr/public/chaire-numerique/en/2021/10/02/digital-services-act-will-the-eu-draw-lessons-from-the-gdpr/

EurActiv: Opinion, 20/10/2021: Digital Services Act: a media exemption would open a loophole for disinformation https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/opinion/digital-services-act-a-media-exemption-would-open-a-loophole-for-disinformation/

Oxford University: Faculty of Law: Blog, 08/11/2021: Data Desiderata: On the Proposed EU Digital Services Regulation 2020 https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/business-law-blog/blog/2021/11/data-desiderata-proposed-eu-digital-services-regulation-2020

Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), 10/11/2021: European Parliament’s Plans Of A Digital Services Act Threaten Internet Freedoms https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2021/11/european-parliaments-plans-digital-services-act-threaten-internet-freedoms

Internet Policy Review: Opinion, 16/11/2021: The Digital Services Act: risk-based regulation of online platforms https://policyreview.info/articles/news/digital-services-act-risk-based-regulation-online-platforms/1606

Politico, 25/11/2021: Europe reins in Big Tech: What you need to know https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-digital-markets-act-dma-digital-services-act-dsa-regulation-platforms-google-amazon-facebook-apple-microsoft/

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ): Blog, 03/12/2021: EU Digital Services Act: journalistic content must be protected from interference by online platforms https://europeanjournalists.org/blog/2021/12/03/eu-digital-service-act-european-citizens-need-a-stronger-dsa/

Twitter: Blog, 09/12/2021: Our Holiday Wish List for the Digital Services Act https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/company/2021/ourholidaywishlistforthedigitalservicesact

BEUC: Press Release, 14/12/2021: Glass half full for consumers following Parliament vote on key digital services rules https://www.beuc.eu/publications/glass-half-full-consumers-following-parliament-vote-key-digital-services-rules/html

Creative Commons: Blog, 21/12/2021: Digital Services Act — Is the EU legislative train on the right track? https://creativecommons.org/2021/12/21/digital-services-act-is-the-eu-legislative-train-on-the-right-track/

European Law Blog, 23/12/2021: EU Digital Constitutionalism, Digital Sovereignty and the Artificial Intelligence Act – A network perspective https://europeanlawblog.eu/2021/12/23/eu-digital-constitutionalism-digital-sovereignty-and-the-artificial-intelligence-act-a-network-perspective/

Human Rights Watch (HRW): News, 07/01/2022: EU: Put Fundamental Rights at Top of Digital Regulation https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/01/07/eu-put-fundamental-rights-top-digital-regulation

EU Law Analysis, 11/01/2022: A democratic alternative to the Digital Services Act's handshake between States and online platforms to tackle disinformation http://eulawanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/01/a-democratic-alternative-to-digital.html

EPRS: At a Glance, January 2022: Parliament's negotiating position on the digital services act https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2022)698873

EBU: News, 18/01/2022: The Digital Services Act must safeguard freedom of expression online https://www.ebu.ch/news/2022/01/the-digital-services-act-must-safeguard-freedom-of-expression-online

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ): News, 18/01/2022: Digital Services Act: EFJ supports amendment binding platforms to fundamental rights https://europeanjournalists.org/blog/2022/01/18/digital-services-act-efj-supports-amendment-binding-platforms-to-fundamental-rights/

European Parliament: Press Release, 20/01/2022: Digital Services Act: regulating platforms for a safer online space for users https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220114IPR21017/

Euronews, 20/01/2022: What is the EU Digital Services Act and how will it impact Big Tech? https://www.euronews.com/2022/01/20/what-is-the-eu-digital-services-act-and-how-will-it-impact-big-tech

Deutsche Welle, 20/01/2022: What is the EU's Digital Services Act supposed to achieve? https://p.dw.com/p/45nSQ

BEUC: Press Release, 20/01/2022: EU Parliament improves some protections for consumers in digital services but fails to go full mile https://www.beuc.eu/publications/eu-parliament-improves-some-protections-consumers-digital-services-fails-go-full-mile/html

Social Europe, 20/10/2022: Framing the future of the internet https://socialeurope.eu/framing-the-future-of-the-internet/

---

News

Politico: Tag: Digital Services Act https://www.politico.eu/tag/digital-services-act/

BBC News, 15/12/2020: EU Digital Services Act set to bring in new rules for tech giants https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-55307115

EurActiv, 15/12/2020: Revealed: Commission ushers in new era of digital regulation https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/revealed-commission-ushers-in-new-era-of-digital-regulation/

CityAM, 09/02/2021: EU weighs up forcing tech giants to pay for news https://www.cityam.com/eu-weighs-up-forcing-tech-giants-to-pay-for-news/

The Irish Times, 09/02/2021: EU ready to follow Australia’s lead on making Big Tech pay for news https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/eu-ready-to-follow-australia-s-lead-on-making-big-tech-pay-for-news-1.4480114

EurActiv, 10/02/2021: Prohibit targeted advertising in Digital Services Act, EU data watchdog says https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/prohibit-targeted-advertising-in-digital-services-act-eu-data-watchdog-says/

Reuters, 29/10/2021: EU countries aiming for common position on tech rules on Nov. 25 https://www.reuters.com/technology/eu-countries-aiming-common-position-tech-rules-nov-25-2021-10-29/

The Irish Times, 09/12/2021: Tech firms say EU rules should ensure they are regulated in their bases https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/tech-firms-say-eu-rules-should-ensure-they-are-regulated-in-their-bases-1.4751338

TIME Magazine, 13/12/2021: E.U. Lawmakers Propose New Rules to Control Online Content https://time.com/6128245/eu-online-content-regulations-internet/

EurActiv, 14/12/2021: MEPs adopt Digital Services Act in a key committee vote https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/meps-adopt-digital-services-act-in-a-key-committee-vote/

Politico, 16/12/2021: 16/12/2021: French minister: Europe’s Big Tech crackdown is not about the US https://www.politico.eu/article/cedric-o-europe-big-tech-crackdown-is-not-about-the-us/

EurActiv, 20/01/2022: MEPs adopt Digital Services Act with significant last-minute changes https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/meps-adopt-digital-services-act-with-significant-last-minute-changes/

Reuters, 20/01/2022: EU Parliament agrees on proposal to take on U.S. tech giants https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-parliament-agrees-proposal-new-rules-aimed-us-tech-giants-2022-01-20/

---

Official

EUR-Lex: SWD(2020)348: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Impact Assessment https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2020:348:FIN

EUR-Lex: SWD(2020)349: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Executive Summary of the Impact Assessment https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2020:349:FIN

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on Digital Services Act (2020/0361(COD)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2020/0361(COD)

European Parliament: Legislative Train Schedule: Digital Services Act https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-a-europe-fit-for-the-digital-age/file-digital-services-act

European Commission: Policies: Digital Services Act package https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/digital-services-act-package

European Commission: Priorities 2019-2024: The Digital Services Act: ensuring a safe and accountable online environment https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age/digital-services-act-ensuring-safe-and-accountable-online-environment_en

European Commission: Press Release, 15/12/2020: Europe fit for the Digital Age: Commission proposes new rules for digital platforms https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_2347

European Commission: Digital Services Act – Questions and Answers (15 December 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_20_2348

European Commission: Statement by Executive Vice-President Vestager on the Commission proposal on new rules for digital platforms (15 December 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_20_2450

EPP Group: Newsroom, 20/01/2021: EPP Group Position on the Digital Services Act (DSA) https://www.eppgroup.eu/newsroom/publications/epp-group-position-on-the-digital-services-act-dsa

EU EDPS: Press Release, 10/02/2021: EDPS Opinions on the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act https://edps.europa.eu/press-publications/press-news/press-releases/2021/edps-opinions-digital-services-act-and-digital_en

EFTA: News, 29/09/2021: EEA EFTA States highlight how the Digital Services Act can contribute to a safer online environment https://www.efta.int/EEA/news/EEA-EFTA-States-highlight-how-Digital-Services-Act-can-contribute-safer-online-environment-525946

S&D EP Group: Newsroom, 06/10/2021: S&Ds on DSA/DMA: We are astonished to hear others might put at risk these files that are crucial to our citizens https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/sds-dsadma-we-are-astonished-hear-others-might-put-risk-these-files-are-crucial-our

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 25/11/2021: What is illegal offline should be illegal online: Council agrees position on the Digital Services Act https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/11/25/what-is-illegal-offline-should-be-illegal-online-council-agrees-on-position-on-the-digital-services-act/

Finnish Government: Press Release, 25/11/2021: EU Digital Services Act to expand the responsibilities of internet service providers https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/eu-digital-services-act-to-expand-the-responsibilities-of-internet-service-providers

European Parliament: Headlines, 14/12/2021: EU Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act explained https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20211209STO19124/

European Parliament: Press Release, 14/12/2021: Digital Services Act: a safer online space for users, stricter rules for platforms https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20211210IPR19209/

Renew Europe EP Group: Newsroom, 14/12/2021: Digital Services Act: Renew Europe wants a better internet where users are protected and digital companies can fairly compete https://www.reneweuropegroup.eu/news/2021-12-14/digital-services-act-renew-europe-wants-a-better-internet-where-users-are-protected-and-digital-companies-can-fairly-compete

ECR EP Group: Article, 14/12/2021: ECR Group on the Digital Services Act https://ecrgroup.eu/article/ecr_group_on_the_digital_services_act

European Commission: Speech by Executive Vice-President Vestager on the Digital Services Act (19 January 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_22_432

European Commission: Speech by Commissioner Breton on the Digital Services Act (19 January 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_22_431

S&D EP Group: Newsroom, 20/01/2022: With the Digital Services Act, S&Ds put an end to tracking minors and their behaviour online for advertising purposes https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/digital-services-act-sds-put-end-tracking-minors-and-their-behaviour-online-advertising

Greens/EFA EP Group: Press Release, 20/01/2022: European Parliament votes on Constitution for the internet https://www.greens-efa.eu/en/article/press/european-parliament-votes-on-constitution-for-the-internet

---