05.07.2022 IT Tech

Digital Services Package: "a global first"

Back in December 2020, the European Commission introduced a Digital Service Package, gathering both the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The European Parliament and Council succeeded to reach a political agreement on the DMA on March 24, and on the DSA on April 23.

Earlier today, the European Commission officially accepted to adopt both the DSA and the DMA, proposed by the Commission in December 2020. To be clear, this package encompasses a set of rules regarding “the online platforms that we all depend on in our daily lives”. These two Acts will serve to establish a “safer and more open digital space, grounded in respect for fundamental rights”.

Executive Vice-President for a Europe Fit for the Digital Act, Margrethe Vestager, declared: “The European Parliament has adopted a global first: Strong, ambitious regulation of online platforms. The Digital Services Act enables the protection of users’ rights online. The Digital Markets Act creates fair, open online markets. As an example, illegal hate speech can also be dealt with online. And products bought online must be safe. Big platforms will have to refrain from promoting their own interests, share their data with other businesses, enable more app stores. Because with size comes responsibility – as a big platform, there are things you must do and things you cannot do.”.

Now that the adoption of both DSA and DMA is agreed upon, it is now the Council of the European Union’s turn to examine these texts and formally adopt them. After their signature, both acts are to be published in the Official Journal, and enter into force 20 days after the latter publication next fall.