{"id":16941,"date":"2026-01-20T12:24:19","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T12:24:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edaa.eu\/?page_id=16941"},"modified":"2026-09-13T19:56:31","modified_gmt":"2026-09-13T19:56:31","slug":"digital-services-act","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/edaa.eu\/digital-services-act\/","title":{"rendered":"What is DSA: The Digital Services Act Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column offset=&#8221;vc_col-xs-12&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;16928&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_section][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;top&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/4&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1768902704007{padding-top: 70px !important;}&#8221; el_class=&#8221;toc-container-dsa&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #f2582c;\"><strong>Table of Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong><a href=\"\/digital-services-act\/#1\">What is the Digital Services Act?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"\/digital-services-act\/#2\">Why was it introduced?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"\/digital-services-act\/#3\">Key Objectives of the DSA<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"\/digital-services-act\/#4\">Who must comply with the Digital Services Act?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"\/digital-services-act\/#5\">Am I a Platform under the DSA?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"\/digital-services-act\/#6\">How can EDAA help you comply with the DSA?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"\/digital-services-act\/#7\">Impact of DSA<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"\/digital-services-act\/#8\">DSA for Consumers: Rights &amp; Protection<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"\/digital-services-act\/#9\">Enforcement and Penalties<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"\/digital-services-act\/#10\">How is DSA related to data-driven advertising?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"\/digital-services-act\/#11\">Relationship with other EU regulations<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"\/digital-services-act\/#12\">DSA Updates<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"\/digital-services-act\/#13\">Resources<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;3\/4&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1757335049472{border-color: #F2803C !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1768900722663{border-top-width: 3px !important;border-right-width: 3px !important;border-bottom-width: 3px !important;border-left-width: 3px !important;padding-top: 1rem !important;padding-right: 1rem !important;padding-bottom: 1rem !important;padding-left: 1rem !important;border-left-style: none !important;border-right-style: none !important;border-top-style: none !important;border-bottom-style: none !important;border-radius: 15px !important;border-color: #1E73BE !important;}&#8221; el_id=&#8221;1&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"color: #f2582c;\"><b>What is the Digital Services Act (DSA)?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Digital Services Act (DSA) is the European Union&#8217;s <strong>comprehensive regulatory framework for online intermediaries and platforms<\/strong>, including marketplaces, social networks, content-sharing platforms, app stores, and online travel and accommodation platforms. The regulation&#8217;s primary objective is to prevent illegal and harmful activities online while combating the spread of disinformation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This piece of legislation, applicable as of February 2024, <strong>establishes user safety protections, safeguards fundamental rights, and creates equitable conditions for online platform operations<\/strong>. The DSA updates the eCommerce Directive in EU law and applies to all online intermediaries offering services within the EU&#8217;s single market, regardless of their place of establishment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The DSA constitutes a fundamental shift in digital governance, moving beyond the 20-year-old e-Commerce Directive to address contemporary challenges including algorithmic manipulation, coordinated disinformation campaigns, and platform market concentration. The regulation operates in direct conjunction with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) to establish <strong>comprehensive digital governance<\/strong> across the European Union.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=&#8221;16929&#8243; img_size=&#8221;large&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1768900739428{border-top-width: 3px !important;border-right-width: 3px !important;border-bottom-width: 3px !important;border-left-width: 3px !important;padding-top: 1rem !important;padding-right: 1rem !important;padding-bottom: 1rem !important;padding-left: 1rem !important;border-left-style: none !important;border-right-style: none !important;border-top-style: none !important;border-bottom-style: none !important;border-radius: 15px !important;border-color: #1E73BE !important;}&#8221; el_id=&#8221;2&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"color: #f2582c;\"><b>Why was it introduced?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The DSA emerged from <strong>mounting concerns<\/strong> regarding increasing platform influence over society, democratic processes, and individual rights. Existing legislation could no longer address the challenges posed by a digital landscape growing at unprecedented speed: hence the need for a <strong>new, unified and harmonised set of rules for online services<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The DSA is Europe\u2019s direct response to a maturing online environment in need of a new level of governance.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; style=&#8221;dashed&#8221; el_width=&#8221;70&#8243; css=&#8221;&#8221; accent_color=&#8221;#00ACEE&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1768901545228{border-top-width: 3px !important;border-right-width: 3px !important;border-bottom-width: 3px !important;border-left-width: 3px !important;padding-top: 1rem !important;padding-right: 1rem !important;padding-bottom: 1rem !important;padding-left: 1rem !important;border-left-style: none !important;border-right-style: none !important;border-top-style: none !important;border-bottom-style: none !important;border-radius: 15px !important;border-color: #1E73BE !important;}&#8221; el_id=&#8221;3&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"color: #f2582c;\"><b>Key Objectives of the DSA<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Digital Services Act pursues <strong>multiple interconnected objectives<\/strong> designed to establish a safer, more transparent, and equitable digital environment. These objectives reflect the EU&#8217;s commitment to protecting fundamental rights while fostering innovation and fair competition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Key objectives include:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">\u25b6<\/span> Protecting users from illegal content and harmful activities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Establishing clear mechanisms for identifying, reporting, and removing illegal content while preventing its dissemination across platforms.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">\u25b6 <\/span>Ensuring transparency in advertising, content moderation and algorithmic systems<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Requiring platforms to provide background information for digital ads, offer explanations for content decisions and make recommendation algorithms transparent to users and researchers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">\u25b6 <\/span>Safeguarding fundamental rights online<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Prioritising protection of freedom of expression, privacy, and other rights guaranteed by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">\u25b6 <\/span>Creating accountability for systemic risks<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Mandating that large platforms identify and mitigate risks their services pose to democracy, public health, civic discourse, and fundamental rights.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">\u25b6 <\/span>Establishing effective oversight and enforcement<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Implementing robust enforcement mechanisms with substantial penalties to ensure compliance across the digital ecosystem.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">\u25b6 <\/span>Promoting user empowerment and choice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Providing users with greater control over their online experience, including customization of algorithmic recommendations and understanding of advertising targeting mechanisms.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">\u25b6 <\/span>Fostering competitive fairness<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Ensuring fair competition among platforms with different levels of influence over the market while supporting innovation and growth.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=&#8221;16930&#8243; img_size=&#8221;large&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; style=&#8221;vc_box_outline_circle&#8221; onclick=&#8221;link_image&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1768823002933{border-radius: 5px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1770111742034{border-top-width: 3px !important;border-right-width: 3px !important;border-bottom-width: 3px !important;border-left-width: 3px !important;padding-top: 1rem !important;padding-right: 1rem !important;padding-bottom: 1rem !important;padding-left: 1rem !important;border-left-style: none !important;border-right-style: none !important;border-top-style: none !important;border-bottom-style: none !important;border-radius: 15px !important;border-color: #1E73BE !important;}&#8221; el_id=&#8221;4&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"color: #f2582c;\"><b>Who must comply with the Digital Services Act?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>All online intermediaries offering services within the EU&#8217;s single market<\/strong> must comply with DSA requirements, regardless of their place of establishment. The regulation employs a <strong>graduated compliance approach<\/strong> where obligations are scaled according to service provider size, role, and societal impact.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The DSA categorises digital services into four distinct tiers with progressively stringent requirements:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #eb9e1e;\"><b><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">\u25b6<\/span> Intermediary Services<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Basic online services that transmit or store third-party information, including internet service providers, domain name registrars, and fundamental web hosting services. These services face core obligations including clear terms of service provision and accessible contact information.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=&#8221;Explore DSA Obligations for Intermediary Services&#8221; style=&#8221;3d&#8221; shape=&#8221;square&#8221; color=&#8221;danger&#8221; size=&#8221;lg&#8221; align=&#8221;left&#8221; i_type=&#8221;typicons&#8221; i_icon_typicons=&#8221;typcn typcn-arrow-right-outline&#8221; css_animation=&#8221;bounceIn&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221; add_icon=&#8221;true&#8221; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fedaa.eu%2Fdigital-services-act%2Fobligations-for-intermediary-services%2F|target:_blank&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1770111761797{border-top-width: 3px !important;border-right-width: 3px !important;border-bottom-width: 3px !important;border-left-width: 3px !important;padding-top: 1rem !important;padding-right: 1rem !important;padding-bottom: 1rem !important;padding-left: 1rem !important;border-left-style: none !important;border-right-style: none !important;border-top-style: none !important;border-bottom-style: none !important;border-radius: 15px !important;border-color: #1E73BE !important;}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #eb9e1e;\"><b><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">\u25b6 <\/span><\/b><b>Hosting Services<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Intermediary services storing user-provided information, such as cloud computing services, web hosting platforms, and file-sharing services. These providers must implement notice-and-action mechanisms for illegal content removal and maintain transparency regarding content moderation activities.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=&#8221;Explore DSA Obligations for Hosting Services&#8221; style=&#8221;3d&#8221; shape=&#8221;square&#8221; color=&#8221;danger&#8221; size=&#8221;lg&#8221; align=&#8221;left&#8221; i_type=&#8221;typicons&#8221; i_icon_typicons=&#8221;typcn typcn-arrow-right-outline&#8221; css_animation=&#8221;bounceIn&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221; add_icon=&#8221;true&#8221; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fedaa.eu%2Fdigital-services-act%2Fobligations-for-hosting-services%2F|target:_blank&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1770111783656{border-top-width: 3px !important;border-right-width: 3px !important;border-bottom-width: 3px !important;border-left-width: 3px !important;padding-top: 1rem !important;padding-right: 1rem !important;padding-bottom: 1rem !important;padding-left: 1rem !important;border-left-style: none !important;border-right-style: none !important;border-top-style: none !important;border-bottom-style: none !important;border-radius: 15px !important;border-color: #1E73BE !important;}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #eb9e1e;\"><b><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">\u25b6 <\/span><\/b><b>Online Platforms<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hosting services that store and disseminate information to public audiences, including social media networks, online marketplaces, application stores, and collaborative platforms. These services face enhanced requirements for content moderation systems, user complaint mechanisms, and advertising transparency protocols.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=&#8221;Explore DSA Obligations for Online Platforms&#8221; style=&#8221;3d&#8221; shape=&#8221;square&#8221; color=&#8221;danger&#8221; size=&#8221;lg&#8221; align=&#8221;left&#8221; i_type=&#8221;typicons&#8221; i_icon_typicons=&#8221;typcn typcn-arrow-right-outline&#8221; css_animation=&#8221;bounceIn&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221; add_icon=&#8221;true&#8221; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fedaa.eu%2Fdigital-services-act%2Fobligations-for-online-platforms%2F|target:_blank&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1770111796957{border-top-width: 3px !important;border-right-width: 3px !important;border-bottom-width: 3px !important;border-left-width: 3px !important;padding-top: 1rem !important;padding-right: 1rem !important;padding-bottom: 1rem !important;padding-left: 1rem !important;border-left-style: none !important;border-right-style: none !important;border-top-style: none !important;border-bottom-style: none !important;border-radius: 15px !important;border-color: #1E73BE !important;}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #eb9e1e;\"><b><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">\u25b6 <\/span><\/b><b>Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Platforms and search engines exceeding 45 million monthly active users in the EU (representing 10% of the EU population), designated as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) or Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs). These services face the most stringent obligations, including comprehensive systemic risk assessments, independent audits, and enhanced transparency requirements.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=&#8221;Explore DSA Obligations for Very Large Online Platforms&#8221; style=&#8221;3d&#8221; shape=&#8221;square&#8221; color=&#8221;danger&#8221; size=&#8221;lg&#8221; align=&#8221;left&#8221; i_type=&#8221;typicons&#8221; i_icon_typicons=&#8221;typcn typcn-arrow-right-outline&#8221; css_animation=&#8221;bounceIn&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221; add_icon=&#8221;true&#8221; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fedaa.eu%2Fdigital-services-act%2Fobligations-for-very-large-online-platforms%2F|target:_blank&#8221;][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; style=&#8221;dashed&#8221; el_width=&#8221;70&#8243; css=&#8221;&#8221; accent_color=&#8221;#00ACEE&#8221;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;16931&#8243; img_size=&#8221;large&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1769447400337{border-top-width: 3px !important;border-right-width: 3px !important;border-bottom-width: 3px !important;border-left-width: 3px !important;padding-top: 1rem !important;padding-right: 1rem !important;padding-bottom: 1rem !important;padding-left: 1rem !important;border-left-style: none !important;border-right-style: none !important;border-top-style: none !important;border-bottom-style: none !important;border-radius: 15px !important;border-color: #1E73BE !important;}&#8221; el_id=&#8221;5&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"color: #f2582c;\"><b>Am I a Platform under the DSA?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Determining platform status under the DSA requires <strong>careful analysis of your service&#8217;s functionality and user interaction patterns<\/strong>. The critical factor is whether your service enables users to provide information that is subsequently disseminated to public audiences or defined recipient groups.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your service qualifies as an online platform if it <strong>stores and publicly disseminates information at the request of the user<\/strong>. This classification may include social media platforms, review websites, online marketplaces, discussion forums, video-sharing platforms, and collaborative platforms such as wikis.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=&#8221;Find out if you are a platform under the DSA&#8221; style=&#8221;3d&#8221; shape=&#8221;square&#8221; color=&#8221;danger&#8221; size=&#8221;lg&#8221; align=&#8221;left&#8221; i_type=&#8221;typicons&#8221; i_icon_typicons=&#8221;typcn typcn-arrow-right-outline&#8221; css_animation=&#8221;bounceIn&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221; add_icon=&#8221;true&#8221; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fedaa.eu%2Fdigital-services-act%2Fam-i-a-platform-under-the-dsa%2F|target:_blank&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1769447383930{border-top-width: 3px !important;border-right-width: 3px !important;border-bottom-width: 3px !important;border-left-width: 3px !important;padding-top: 1rem !important;padding-right: 1rem !important;padding-bottom: 1rem !important;padding-left: 1rem !important;border-left-style: none !important;border-right-style: none !important;border-top-style: none !important;border-bottom-style: none !important;border-radius: 15px !important;border-color: #1E73BE !important;}&#8221;]<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It should be noted that not all services hosting content qualify as online platforms. Private messaging services, email providers, personal cloud storage services, and internal communication tools typically fall outside of the DSA definition. Small and medium enterprises with fewer than 250 employees and revenues below EUR 50 million or balance sheets under EUR 43 million may fall within scope of the regulation, but they are eligible for exemptions from platform requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Given the complexity of these determinations, <strong>consulting legal experts<\/strong> familiar with DSA requirements ensures accurate classification and appropriate compliance measures.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; style=&#8221;dashed&#8221; el_width=&#8221;70&#8243; css=&#8221;&#8221; accent_color=&#8221;#00ACEE&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1768901815973{border-top-width: 3px !important;border-right-width: 3px !important;border-bottom-width: 3px !important;border-left-width: 3px !important;padding-top: 1rem !important;padding-right: 1rem !important;padding-bottom: 1rem !important;padding-left: 1rem !important;border-left-style: none !important;border-right-style: none !important;border-top-style: none !important;border-bottom-style: none !important;border-radius: 15px !important;border-color: #1E73BE !important;}&#8221; el_id=&#8221;6&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"color: #f2582c;\"><b>How can EDAA help you comply with the DSA?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>