The Digital Services Act (DSA) introduces a new EU-wide framework for regulating online content and the provision of intermediary services.
In the spirit of the motto “what is illegal offline is also illegal online,” the DSA introduces new harmonised rules for providers of intermediary services. These apply to social networks, online marketplaces, internet search engines, web-hosting and cloud services, online travel and accommodation platforms, app stores, and other types of online platforms. The rules apply not only to providers based in the EU, but also to those located in third countries that offer services to users within the Union.
The DSA provides tools to create a safe online environment, together and for everyone. It focuses on countering illegal content while respecting users’ rights.
What are the objectives of the DSA?
The objectives of the DSA are:
to ensure a safer, more predictable and more trustworthy online environment;
to protect the rights of all recipients of intermediary services and consumers;
to introduce targeted measures to combat illegal content and systemic risks;
to promote transparency, innovation and competitiveness.
The DSA introduces new obligations that vary depending on the size and type of provider of intermediary services. To safeguard competitiveness, the strictest obligations do not apply to small and medium-sized enterprises.
Role of the Council for Media Services
Under the DSA, all Member States of the European Union are required to designate a “Digital Services Coordinator.” In Slovakia, this role is performed by the Council for Media Services.
Coordinators play a key role in supervising and enforcing the DSA’s rules and carry out their entrusted tasks impartially, independently, transparently and in a timely manner.
Their main tasks include:
coordinating the application of the DSA at national and European level;
supervising and enforcing the obligations the DSA imposes on providers of intermediary services;
handling submissions from the public;
certifying trusted flaggers, out-of-court dispute settlement bodies, and vetted researchers.
The Council of Media Services also coordinates an informal network of experts (the so-called Trust and Safety Network) who focus on digital topics and improving the safety of the online environment. The aim of this network is to create an ecosystem across sectors and institutions in which relevant stakeholders can share best practices, benefit from mutual cooperation, and amplify efforts to improve the online environment in Slovakia.
DSA Timeline: From Adoption to Implementation
October 2022 – DSA adopted by the Council of the EU and the European Parliament;
June 2023 – The Council for Media Services becomes a member of the informal network of Digital Services Coordinators;
February 2024 – The DSA enters into force; the Council participates as an observer in all meetings of the European Board for Digital Services;
June 2024 – Members of the National Council of the Slovak Republic approve the bill implementing the DSA into Slovak law;
July 2024 – The Council officially becomes the Digital Services Coordinator and a full member of the European Board for Digital Services.