The European Union is broadening its stringent set of regulations for online platforms across the bloc starting on Saturday. This is a continuation of their efforts to address harmful content on social media and questionable products being sold online, which began last year with a focus on the most widely used services.

The Digital Services Act, implemented by the EU, has been put into effect for over twenty prominent online platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Amazon, and Wikipedia. This act enforces strict regulations to ensure the safety of internet users, including simplified reporting of fake or hazardous products and identifying and removing harmful or illegal content such as hate speech. Additionally, the act prohibits targeted advertisements for children.

The regulations will now affect almost every internet platform, marketplace, and “middlemen” that have users in the European Union of 27 countries. Only the smallest companies, with less than 50 employees and yearly earnings under 10 million euros ($11 million), will not be subject to these regulations.

This implies that the regulations could now apply to a larger number of websites, possibly in the thousands. This includes well-known sites like eBay and OnlyFans, which were previously exempt from the stricter regulations imposed on the largest online platforms.

“The DSA provides users, Member States, and platforms with the means to create a safer and more transparent digital environment,” stated Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice President of the European Commission, in a press release. “This is a significant achievement that aligns with our core values and principles in the EU.”

According to the DSA, online platforms are required to be open and clear about digital advertisements. This includes disclosing the reason behind showing a particular ad and identifying the advertiser. Advertisements cannot target individuals using personal information such as political or religious beliefs and sexual orientation. Platforms must provide explanations for their content moderation choices and inform users about the removal of posts or suspension of accounts.

The European Union has initiated an examination of Elon Musk’s social media site X, previously known as Twitter, on suspicion of violating the DSA’s regulations, specifically for not adequately addressing the dissemination of unlawful material.

Source: wral.com