EU set to rein in Big Tech, enforce user protections under landmark new law

According to reporting from The Irish Times, the EU is set to unveil a new law today that would force Big Tech companies to root out illegal content on their online platforms.

Under the new Digital Services Act (DSA), companies would no longer be allowed to target users online based on their religion, gender, or sexual preferences.

This monumental legislative package would set new parameters for the responsibility of Big Tech companies in keeping users safe online. With the passage of the Digital Markets Act last month, the EU has taken to the largest overhaul of online regulations for large technology companies in over two decades.

Once in place, the DSA laws would end manipulative practices like clickbait schemes and malicious websites that are designed to trick users into spending money and handing over data. According to the EU’s executive vice-president Margrethe Vestager, the new legislation would allow users to be "safe online, buy products, and express oneself,"

Another goal of the DSA would be to implement a new series of child safeguard rules for the web. An example of this is that popular sites like YouTube and TikTok would have to make the verbiage of their user terms and conditions accessible and understandable for younger children.

The direct targeting of children by online ads would also be curtailed.

In addition to these child protective initiatives, the DSA would also force large search engines like Google to take steps to combat misinformation online - whether about subjects like Covid or the war in Ukraine.

In flaunting these new rules, large companies would risk facing fines between €20 million and €30 million per year.

Uncertainty still remains in the European Parliament as to whether or not the new legislation will be able to pass. Tensions between those who seek more privacy protections online and those who fear the new regulations will harm businesses threaten to scuttle the proposed legislation.

Today might be D-Day for the Digital Services Act!

Together with the European Parliament & Council, the Commission has worked in record time to protect 🇪🇺 citizens online.

Here are the 10 things you need to know about the #DSA ahead of our (hopefully) final trilogue.

🧵⤵️ pic.twitter.com/emiTEbgIsJ

— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) April 22, 2022