Filenews 28 September 2025 - by Theano Thiopoulou
A safe and trustworthy environment on the internet, especially at a time when misinformation and illegal content of various kinds are a global concern, is highlighted by the European Commission, publishing a few days ago on its website the "Digital Services Act: keeping us safe online".
A topic that concerns millions of users in Europe. The law applies to all businesses that operate online. The European Commission indicates that "the Digital Services Act (DSA) regulates online services, such as social media, marketplaces, app stores, and online travel and accommodation services, for example Shein, Instagram, X, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Booking.com. Its main goal is to create a safer digital space in which your fundamental rights are protected."
Recent investigations in the context of the DSA
The Commission has already launched several investigations against major platforms to verify their compliance with the Digital Security Systems Act. In some cases, these have already led to notable changes as reported by the European Commission:
TikTok: In 2024, TikTok introduced the Rewards program, but later withdrew it after the EU launched an investigation into concerns about its potentially addictive design, especially for children.
AliExpress: While the platform is still under investigation for improperly assessing and minimizing the spread of harmful and illegal products, it has made several commitments to comply with the Digital Security Act (DSA). These include enhancing the transparency of advertising and referral systems and improving its mechanism for flagging illegal content.
Temu: The EU suspects that Temu does not properly assess and reduce the risks associated with the sale of illegal products, the potentially addictive design of the service, the recommendation systems used for purchases and access to data for researchers. Preliminary findings in one part of the investigation showed that Temu is in breach of DSA's obligations by not thoroughly controlling the risks of illegal products appearing on its market.
Facebook and Instagram: The EU is investigating Facebook and Instagram for mis-application of DSA rules to protect minors online. In particular, the EU is investigating whether the features and algorithms of both platforms may encourage addictive behaviours in children and lead them to endless content paths, known as 'rabbit effects'.
Large platforms that fail to comply with the Digital Security Act (DSA) may face fines of up to 6% of their global annual turnover and will be required to take corrective action. The Commission will continue to monitor the compliance of the platforms and take action when necessary.
How and how much it helps
The European Commission informs the public how DSA positively affects citizens' lives:
• Control your online experience: if your content or account is removed or suspended, platforms must explain why this was done – they can no longer limit the visibility of your content without letting you know. If you disagree with their decision, you can appeal using the platform's internal system or through out-of-court dispute resolution bodies, which help resolve disputes with platforms in a faster and cheaper way than going to court.
• Flagging Illegal Content: You can report illegal content, goods, or services through an easy-to-use mechanism directly on the platforms. They must inform you of their decision on your notice and the possibilities for appeal.
• Streaming options: You have control over what you see online. On major platforms with over 45 million users in the EU, you can now use non-personalised feeds. This way, you decide whether to see content based on the algorithm's suggestions or other criteria, such as chronological order. This helps to avoid addictive content and ensures that you only see the content you want to interact with.
• Ad Transparency: The Digital Ads Act (DSA) introduced transparency requirements for ads, ensuring that ads are clearly labeled as such and include information about who places them and why you see them. It also prohibits platforms from showing you ads based on sensitive data, such as data about sexual orientation, religion or race, and introduces a complete ban on showing targeted advertising to children.
• Manipulation Tactics: Dark patterns, which are deceptive practices that can lead you to choices you wouldn't otherwise make, are explicitly prohibited. For example, when you buy extra money for a flight, you might see a huge "yes" button, while the "no" option is barely noticeable – platforms must now ensure that both options are equally visible and accessible.
• Know Your Merchant: Marketplaces must verify who the sellers are and display their contact information, so you have clear information about who you are buying goods or services from.
The Commission is solely responsible for
The DSA came into force in August 2023 for very large online platforms (VLOPs) and very large online search engines (VLOS) – those with more than 45 million users in the EU every month.
As of February 2024, it applies to all other platforms in the European Union, except micro and small businesses.
Digital security law enforcement (DSA) is shared between national authorities and the European Commission. National authorities, called Digital Services Coordinators, oversee and enforce compliance with the Digital Services Act (DSA) in their Member States.
If the European Commission wants a citizen to file a complaint about a violation of the DSA, they can contact the Digital Services Coordinator in your Member State. The Commission is the only authority responsible for ensuring that large platforms comply with the stricter rules, given the significant risks they pose due to their large number of users in the EU. It maintains constant contact with these platforms to support and supervise their compliance with DSA rules and to create a safer online space together.
If the Commission suspects a breach of the Digital Security Act (DSA) based on its surveillance or information from trusted sources, including citizens, it can initiate investigations and request information, conduct interviews and conduct inspections of facilities.
