What is the EU Digital Services Act (DSA)?

The EU Digital Services Act (DSA) is a European Union regulation that came into force in 2024.

It sets out clear rules for how online platforms, marketplaces, and intermediaries handle illegal content, protect users, and remain transparent in their operations. The goal is to create a safer online environment while supporting innovation and free speech.

The DSA applies across all EU member states, replacing the fragmented national laws that previously existed. It requires services to provide mechanisms for reporting harmful or illegal content, explain moderation decisions to users, publish annual transparency reports, and adopt safeguards for minors. Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) — services with over 45 million EU users — must carry out extra obligations such as systemic risk assessments and independent audits.

In practice, the DSA is considered the EU’s most ambitious online safety framework, comparable in impact to GDPR in data protection. It affects social media, marketplaces, app stores, hosting providers, and search engines with EU users.