The EU's DSA forces Meta, Google, and other large online platforms to make their algorithms transparent to users, handle misinformation during crises, and more
The VergeJames Vincent
Context & Ripple Effects
This report captures the moment the EU's Digital Services Act moved from draft to done: Meta, Google, and other very large online platforms are now legally required to open up how their recommender algorithms work and to run crisis-response protocols for misinformation. The follow-on coverage shows the arc this set in motion — by August 2023 the DSA had gone into effect, forcing Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok to let users opt out of profiling-based recommendations.
Enforcement followed quickly: in December 2023 the European Commission opened its first high-profile formal DSA investigation into X, targeting illegal content, disinformation, ad transparency, deceptive design, and data access. The 2022 obligations reported here are the legal foundation those later moves rest on.
First-order effects
Meta and Google must build user-facing algorithm transparency tools and crisis misinformation procedures for their largest platforms, converting compliance from a policy question into an engineering and audit workload.
Users on covered platforms gain new rights immediately upon application — including opting out of profiling-based content recommendations rather than being locked into engagement-ranked feeds.
Second-order effects
The Commission gains a ready-made enforcement instrument: the same transparency and disinformation provisions negotiated here became the stated basis for its investigation into X over illegal content, deceptive design, and data access.
Rival platforms face a common regulatory floor in the EU, so competitive differentiation shifts toward how visibly each complies — ad libraries, researcher data access, and recommendation controls become table stakes rather than goodwill gestures.
Third-order effects
If the pattern holds, large-platform governance migrates from self-regulation to regulator-audited obligation, with the Commission's X probe establishing whether the DSA has real teeth or remains a paper framework.
Algorithm transparency as a legal requirement creates a durable compliance layer — recommendation systems, ad delivery, and crisis response get designed with disclosure in mind, reshaping how platforms architect ranking and moderation infrastructure.
The trend: The EU is moving from writing platform-governance law to enforcing it, turning algorithm transparency and disinformation handling from voluntary practice into audited legal duty for the largest online platforms.
Today's agreement on #DSA is historic. Our new rules will protect users online, ensure freedom of expression and opportunities for businesses. What is illegal offline will effectively be illegal online in the EU. A strong signal for people, business & countries worldwide.
@franceshaugen
Frances Haugen on x
Congratulations!! For the first time in history, the public is going to be able to ask independent questions about how @Meta and the other big platforms work and get the data to see the truth. History in the making!! Come on USA, now it's our turn. 🎉 https://twitter.com/...
@eu_commission
@eu_commission on x
“What is illegal offline is also illegal online. Now it's a real thing - not a slogan anymore. This is what we have achieved : an agreement on the #DigitalServicesAct that is even better than the proposal we tabled two years ago.” EVP @vestager https://twitter.com/...
@benedictevans
Benedict Evans on x
Some of these rules are well within consensus, or overdue. (Content moderation! End apple's 30% tax!). But a lot of them are a demand that cars be redesigned to let us change the spark plugs, because people with strong opinions about spark plugs want that. No-one else will do it.
@benedictevans
Benedict Evans on x
Meanwhile, of course, unintended consequences everywhere. Banning advertising based on race or sexuality sounds great until you wonder how that that charity outreach to transgender teens will work. Is your ‘get-out-the-vote!’ campaign to Urdu-speakers illegal? Details matter.
@jahapaula
@jahapaula on x
The path towards more accountable platforms is paved with the #DSA. Including data access for researchers! Let's see how this rolls out. https://www.theverge.com/...
@benedictevans
Benedict Evans on x
The idea that we need an option to turn off algorithmic feeds and recommendation systems, in particular, seems like demanding that any car with an automatic gearbox have a manual option. Yes, car geeks prefer manual, but automatic is better for everyone else. No-one will do this
@carnage4life
@carnage4life on x
Asking tech companies to share how their algorithms work will be the most disappointing outcome from EU's DSA. “We show people the photos & videos other users have liked & commented on the most” isn't a diabolical plan but instead it's human nature that does all the leg work.
@ianbassin
Ian Bassin on x
The EU's agreement on the new Digital Services Act is a major advance in trying to reel in the harmful effects of new technologies. It won't be perfect, but it's a start at updating regulations for a new era from which to build and adjust. https://www.theverge.com/...
@cryptowally2
@cryptowally2 on x
One more step towards data as an asset (class): Transparent algorithms Pretty interesting for Compute-to-Data, too. https://www.theverge.com/...
@benedictevans
Benedict Evans on x
This is the belief that consumers would reject sandboxes, app stores, personalisation, algorithmic feeds etc if only they could, because YOU would. But those things we're created because they make for better products and better experiences., not just (or at all) to make money.
@cyberleagle
Graham Smith on x
And another: “gives practical effect to” the principle that what is illegal offline, should be illegal online. https://ec.europa.eu/...
@zollotech
Aaron Zollo on x
Does that include YouTube's algorithm? https://twitter.com/...