SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure | SDG 16: Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions
Institutions: Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology | Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
The European Commission issued a public update on the Digital Services Act (DSA), highlighting how its enforcement is designed to make online spaces safer for citizens. The DSA covers platforms such as social media, online marketplaces, app stores, and travel sites - requiring them to provide users with explanations when content is removed, offer appeals, and implement mechanisms to allow reporting of illegal content.
Key features of the DSA include:
User control and transparency: platforms must clearly inform users if content is removed or their accounts are suspended and allow appeal.
Ad transparency & protection: advertisements must be clearly labeled, disclose who placed them, and platforms are banned from using sensitive personal data (e.g., religion, sexual orientation) for targeting.
Ban on manipulative βdark patternsβ: UX designs that trick users into decisions will no longer be permissible.
Information access & monitoring: for very large platforms (those with >45 million users in the EU), more strict rules apply, including oversight by the Commission.
This update reaffirms that the EU is pushing harder on platform accountability, transparency, and user rights in the digital space. It signals to governments, regulators, and tech firms worldwide that stronger rules on content moderation, privacy, and algorithmic accountability are becoming central to digital governance.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can India adapt or benchmark versions of the DSA suited to their domestic legal, institutional, and digital ecosystem capacities - balancing protection, innovation, and free expression?
Follow the full news here: European Commission: Digital Services Act: keeping us safe online