The EU finalizes the Digital Services Act, which will force social networks to toughen content moderation, reduce Google and Meta's ad targeting of minors, more

Companies such as Google and Facebook must moderate content more actively in regulatory clampdown

Financial Times 2022-04-23 Javier Espinoza

Discussion

@vestager @vestager on x
It's a wrap! We have a deal on the #DSA! Two years after we tabled the proposal 🙏 @SchaldemoseMEP and @cedric_o - and our amazing teams - for great cooperation 🇪🇺 https://twitter.com/...
@charanzova @charanzova on x
4/4 We want innovation, we want digital growth, we want to keep freedom of expression on-line but we also want an internet that is the best of us, not the worst. #DSA
@prestonjbyrne Preston Byrne on x
Considering much of what is in the Digital Services Act would be facially unconstitutional if implemented in the US, I'd be very interested to know how exactly this FT writer thinks this law will be copied in the US https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@thierrybreton Thierry Breton on x
Yes, we have a deal! With the #DSA, the time of big online platforms behaving like they are “too big to care” is coming to an end. A major milestone for 🇪🇺citizens. Congratulations to the European Parliament & Council and thank you to the great EU team working countless hours! ht…
@openwebadvocacy @openwebadvocacy on x
The latest text of the EU Digital Markets Act puts an end to the #AppleBrowserBan! Rather than wait, @Apple should start working with the other browser vendors to bring their browsers to iOS today.
@henryjfoy Henry Foy on x
“The time of big online platforms behaving like they are ‘too big to care’ is coming to an end.” EU approves groundbreaking rules to police Big Tech platforms after 16 hours of negotiations - @JavierespFT burned the midnight oil while we were sleeping https://www.ft.com/...
@luismalhadinhas Luís Malhadinhas on x
DSA just agreed among EU Institutions! Good news for the digital world! https://twitter.com/...
@mr_james_c @mr_james_c on x
A classic of the genre from the FT. Questions? Nope Foreseeable problems? Nope Challenges? Nope Alternative views? Nope Just a free kick for those drafting sweeping, legally untested policies. https://www.ft.com/... via @FT
@jason_kint Jason Kint on x
And importantly, it has heightened risk and enforcement for very large online platforms and search engines. Read the summary high level. https://twitter.com/...
@charanzova @charanzova on x
1/4 #DSA 🧵: It was a long and hard negotiation. But today with the #DSA, the internet will be a fairer, safer and more accessible place for all users.
@jason_kint Jason Kint on x
Lawmakers like to say with the DSA they've taken the principle that “what is illegal offline must also be illegal online.” Just imagine!
@jason_kint Jason Kint on x
Apologies for cryptic message. It's the EU Digital Services Act which regulates online services and gives Facebook and YouTube a host of obligations in addition to its already agreed companion legislation, Digital Markets Act, which restricts “gatekeepers.” They are a B-F-D. http…
@charanzova @charanzova on x
3/4 Google, Facebook and other online platforms will have to do more to protect users. Europe has made clear that they cannot act as independent digital islands. They play an important role in our societies and must take more responsibilities and be more transparent.
@carnage4life @carnage4life on x
Apple may have fooled the media into thinking they're the good guys in tech but EU regulators caught on to most of their shenanigans. Not all but a good bit. https://www.macrumors.com/...
@paultang Paul Tang on x
What is illegal offline should also be illegal online. Congrats @SchaldemoseMEP and all involved with achieving a deal on the Digital Services Act! #DSA https://twitter.com/...
@robmaness @robmaness on x
Trying fascism again huh? https://twitter.com/...
@chassnews Anne-Sylvaine Chassany on x
After 16 hours of negotiations, Brussels legislators agreed measures preventing companies such as Facebook and Google from targeting minors with online advertising. Technique forcing people to click on content will also be banned. @FT ⁦@JavierespFT⁩ https://www.ft.com/...
@ucc_ed Irene Kaggwa Sewankambo on x
A crime is a crime online as it is offline. EU yesterday reached agreement on the Digital Services Act which, according to EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager, will make sure that what is illegal offline is also seen & dealt with as illegal online https://www.consilium.europa.e…
@jason_kint Jason Kint on x
Now the exact text awaits. I'm super interested in the final language around dark patterns and browser privacy controls. With these regs, EU *can* finally raise the bar on privacy as it's integrated with competition policy dealing with gatekeepers. And cookie banners may go bye.
@schaldemosemep Christel Schaldemose on x
We have a deal on the #DSA! Better online rights for citizens, democratic control over algorithms and disinformation and a ban on targeted ads towards minors. A global golden standard. Great teamwork - proud! https://twitter.com/...
@anna_cavazzini Anna Cavazzini on x
We have a deal on the digital services act! After hours of tough negotiations, @Europarl_EN and @EUCouncil found an agreement on the #DSA Both sides needed to compromise but at the end the #DSA is setting strong rules for the online world.
@jason_kint Jason Kint on x
Snap!!! It's like the pope smoke. https://twitter.com/...
@charanzova @charanzova on x
2/4 The #DSA will help fight the worst of the internet, while giving our citizens more rights and protections. Europe will become the first u to set up such rules.
@marietjeschaake @marietjeschaake on x
Congratulations! ↘️ https://twitter.com/...
@echo_pbreyer @echo_pbreyer on x
🇬🇧 Sad result on #DigitalServicesAct #DSA: Industry and government interests largely prevail over citizens' digital rights. The legislation does not deserve the name ‘Digital Constitution’. Read on: https://www.patrick-breyer.de/ ...
@brucel Bruce Lawson on x
EU Digital Markets Act to end the #appleBrowserBan? “This is most likely meant to address Apple's policy of requiring all browsers running on iOS to utilize Apple's WebKit browser engine” https://theplatformlaw.blog/ ...
@vonderleyen Ursula von der Leyen on x
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.
@carnage4life @carnage4life on x
Tim Cook after getting a notification on his phone about all the changes Apple has to make to the App Store, Messages, FaceTime, Safari, and Siri because the EU passed the Digital Markets Act. https://twitter.com/...
@vestager @vestager on x
Ta da! 16 hours, lots of sweets (but cookies still declined ;) We have a deal on the #DSA: The Digital Services Act will make sure that what is illegal offline is also seen & dealt with as illegal online - not as a slogan, as reality! And always protecting freedom of expression! …
@nienkepalstra @nienkepalstra on x
💥Report reveals the huge industry lobbying force at play to weaken #DSA, including how @Google tried behind the scenes to weaken the ban on surveillance ads based on sensitive data + limit data access for indepedent researchers.
@slightlylate Alex Russell on x
Essential reading. If this language holds, the future is looking bright for the web, competition, and for open computing: https://theplatformlaw.blog/ ... /by @GeradinLaw
@dalmaer Dion Almaer on x
“This is most likely meant to address Apple's policy of requiring all browsers running on iOS to utilize Apple's WebKit browser engine...” https://theplatformlaw.blog/ ...
@bertuzluca Luca Bertuzzi on x
#DSA trilogue: two hours in, there is still no agreement on any point on the agenda, a source told me. Targeted advertising is currently being discussed, but all the previous issues are still open. Brace yourself for a long day.
@daphnehk Daphne Keller on x
The last minute, hushed up changes to the law that are perhaps most alarming for fundamental rights are the ones about mandatory “crisis protocol” content removals under future rules TBD by the Commission. 2/ https://twitter.com/...
@hillaryclinton Hillary Clinton on x
For too long, tech platforms have amplified disinformation and extremism with no accountability. The EU is poised to do something about it. I urge our transatlantic allies to push the Digital Services Act across the finish line and bolster global democracy before it's too late.
@matthewstoller Matt Stoller on x
Chuck Schumer really needs to stop blocking the big tech antitrust bills and bring them to the floor.
@f_kaltheuner @f_kaltheuner on x
The lesson from GDPR: writing laws can be easier than enforcing them. While the European Union has a reputation as the world's toughest regulator of the tech industry, its actions have sometimes appeared tougher on paper than in practice. https://www.nytimes.com/...
@satariano Adam Satariano on x
E.U. deal on a landmark internet law expected today. - Firms must create new policies to remove illicit content. _ Audits for “systemic risks” (misinfo, eating disorder content, etc) _ Ban on ad targeting based on race, religion, sexual orientation https://www.nytimes.com/...
@thierrybreton Thierry Breton on x
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. 🧵⤵️ https://…
@satariano Adam Satariano on x
Today's events in Brussels contrast with the inaction in the U.S., @ceciliakang explains. https://www.nytimes.com/...
@ceciliakang Cecilia Kang on x
The U.S. is the birthplace of the iPhone, Google, Facebook. But leadership on regulations is taking place more than 3,000 miles from DC, by Europeans from 27 nations w 24 languages, who have nonetheless agreed on online protections for 450million citizens. https://www.nytimes.com…
@charanzova @charanzova on x
13,5 hours negotiating the Digital Services Act and still going.... https://twitter.com/...
@javierespft Javier Espinoza on x
Deal on Digital Services Act is imminent according to sources
@grady_booch Grady Booch on x
The Eau is not messing around. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
@mmasnick Mike Masnick on x
Ugh. The Digital Services Act has tremendous problems, and is in the process of getting worse as special interests shove in dangerous christmas presents. It won't “boost global democracy.” It will do tremendous damage to the internet. https://twitter.com/...
@matthewstoller Matt Stoller on x
Conservatives who prioritize culture warring are enabling big tech control, not subverting it. Here's @CSWilsonFTC, one of Google/FB's biggest allies at the Federal Trade Commission, exploiting culture warring to stop antitrust action. https://twitter.com/...
@verambergen Vera Bergengruen on x
“For those keeping score, that's Europe: three. United States: zero.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
@davidakaye David Kaye on x
“the new laws underscore how Europe is setting the standard for tech regulation globally.” exactly. great @satariano piece on #DSA w/key points from @AlexandraGeese & @johnnyryan https://www.nytimes.com/...
@ceciliakang Cecilia Kang on x
NEW with comments open: The EU, with 27 nations with 24 languages, has nonetheless been able to agree on basic internet protections for their 450 million citizens. And the US is falling further behind https://www.nytimes.com/...
@shiraovide Shira Ovide on x
There's public mistrust & political fury at some tech cos but, @ceciliakang: “Only two narrow federal tech laws have been enacted—one for children's privacy and the other for ridding sites of sex-trafficking content —in the past 25 years.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
@obrien Chris O'Brien on x
EU policymakers, while not perfect, have 2 major advantages: They are far enough from Silicon Valley to not be brain-addled by its utopian bullshit. And there is a belief that government can be a positive force for people and markets. The US will simply never get there. https://t…
@hackylawyer Elizabeth M. Renieris on x
“It's what I call the ‘big con,’ where the tech companies spin a story that they are doing magic and that if Washington touches their companies with regulations they'll be responsible for breaking that magic.” -@tewheels Story via @ceciliakang https://www.nytimes.com/...
@sam_dumitriu Sam Dumitriu on x
It's not hard to think of cases where bans on ad targeting could backfire and harm minorities. What happens to a hairdresser who specialises in Afro-Caribbean hair? Can they target their ads? What about a bookshop that specialises in queer literature? https://twitter.com/...
@mr_james_c James Clark on x
Never ceases to amaze me the uncritical reporting the EU receives for unworkable, poorly considered laws. Tell me another political organisation that gets such coverage? https://twitter.com/...
@johnnyryan Johnny Ryan on x
I spoke to @NYTimes about Digital Services Act, and Europe's dismal record of enforcement against Big Tech https://www.nytimes.com/...
@jason_kint Jason Kint on x
Kicker: “Big Tech sees data as dollar signs, so for decades they've bankrolled industry lobbyists to help them evade accountability,” @SenMarkey said. 'We've reached a breaking point.'" https://twitter.com/...
@justinhendrix Justin Hendrix on x
DSA deal moved so quickly... https://twitter.com/...
@carnage4life @carnage4life on x
Tech platforms now have to deal with the realities of geopolitics like every other industry instead of feigning neutrality. Apple has to balance banning Navalny's app to appease Putin with deciding when to pull out of the country because of global outrage at Putin' war mongering
@carnage4life @carnage4life on x
Reading a thread on the EU's Digital Services Act and the trends are going in the direction I've predicted. Governments want more power to censor social media but also want to restrict the platform's ability to censor (aka moderate). It's a global theme. https://twitter.com/... h…
@johnwilson John Wilson on x
Probably because the tech companies they're targeting are not based there. https://twitter.com/...
@eff @eff on x
As the final trilogue on the EU's Digital Services Act wraps up, we remain concerned that proposed changes in the liability regime for large platforms will morph into a scanning program threatening free expression. @Europarl_EN must stand with users and reject such proposals.
@accessnow @accessnow on x
Today's the day — the EU is set to reach a deal on the Digital Services Act. The #DSA will revolutionise platform and content governance. It must put people's rights first. https://www.ft.com/...
@eilah_tan Nathalie Van Raemdonck on x
I once heard an American scoff at my European colleagues at a cyberdiplomacy event saying “what tech innovations have ever come out of the EU?” to which they replied: “Laws” https://www.nytimes.com/...
@daphnehk Daphne Keller on x
But honestly, those DSA changes are less surprising. It looks like the war in Ukraine created a political opportunity for advocates of tighter restrictions to push their agenda (for “security” to trump “liberty"), and they took it. That's pretty normal politics, if bad law. 4/
@jesselehrich Jesse Lehrich on x
🚨 Barack Obama & Hillary Clinton have both touted the EU's Digital Services Act as a bulwark for democracy today. tomorrow, European negotiators have a chance to reach a final agreement on the landmark overhaul of platform governance standards. https://twitter.com/...

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The EU finalizes the Digital Services Act, which will force social networks to toughen content moderation, reduce Google and Meta's ad targeting of minors, more

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