Skip to content
Magazine
Friday, August 1, 2025
SUBSCRIBE
  • About Us
  • Belgium News
    • Belgium Police News
    • Brussels News
  • EU Institutions News
    • European Commission News
    • European Parliament News
    • European Council News
  • Europe News
  • World News
  • Belgium Business News
  • Culture and Society News
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
  • About Us
  • Belgium News
    • Belgium Police News
    • Brussels News
  • EU Institutions News
    • European Commission News
    • European Parliament News
    • European Council News
  • Europe News
  • World News
  • Belgium Business News
  • Culture and Society News
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
SUBSCRIBE

The EU’s new Digital Services Act could have been better

Mikuláš Peksa MEP by Mikuláš Peksa MEP
21 January 2022
in Opinion
Digital,Services,Act,(dsa),Concept:,Enter,Key,With,Europe,Flag

Digital services act (DSA) concept: enter key with europe flag and the text Digital Services Act

Brussels (Brussels Morning) The digital revolution has brought many benefits and useful technologies, yet in the modern and interconnected world, it also presents great challenges. Online platforms and especially the so-called Big Tech companies have significant leverage over our society. 

In the EU, the current e-commerce directive is 20 years old, yet the world of the internet has dramatically changed since. Therefore, I welcome the upcoming new European legislation spelled out in the Digital Services Act (DSA), which will finally set the rules for online digital platforms while safeguarding the freedom of the Internet. Every piece of legislation is the outcome of the discussion and finding compromise and in that regard, the DSA could have been a real triumph for European citizens. Unfortunately, the final text being discussed in Strasbourg today has been tainted by a few additions that erode the potential this legislation might have delivered.

One of the greatest successes of the DSA is the fact that it finally applies reasonable rules to surveillance-based advertising. For the first time, users can generally opt-out from targeted advertising on the browser and at the same time be spared from the annoyance of consent banners. Chat platforms will not be allowed to filter and scan our personal communications with our friends and family without our knowing. 

Interoperability and data portability will allow users to share their content through different platforms and possibly communicate. This will give European citizens a wider choice and lower prices for intermediary services. Users will also have the right to effective remedies against the removal of their online content. I am especially proud of the small but critical changes in approach to transparency which will require platforms to communicate clearly to the users, provide explanations, and to label accessibly all changes about terms of use.

However, I am deeply concerned with certain additions that have jeopardised the DSA’s original intent to protect our online privacy. One of the main problems I see relates to cross-border removal orders, which would lead to the deletion of content that is fully legal in one country because of decisions taken by another. This is especially concerning at a time when we face a crisis of rule of law in states such as Hungary and Poland. Moreover, anyone wanting to upload content on a porn platform will have to go through obligatory double identification with email and phone number registration, a requirement that creates a big threat to the privacy of sex workers. From now on, they will be more exposed to data leaks, stalking, or blackmailing. Since sex work is still stigmatised in our society, anonymity is of the utmost importance to its practitioners.

Here, Europe has once again shown it is repeating problems. By trying to cater too much to the nation-states and by trying to impose rules endangering privacy and freedom, we have got a file that will mostly help, but it carries a lot of specifically focused poison. I sincerely hope that further work will be able to fix it. 

Related News:

  • European Parliament look ahead — Ukraine and Russia, France’s EU Presidency, the Digital Services Act, EMA
  • EU Council, Parliament agree on Digital Services Act
  • The digital services act is about giving back control to our citizens
  • How to restore competitiveness on digital markets? By mandating interoperability of services
Tags: DigitalDigital Services Actdigitally-driven jobsEuropean UnionMEPNewsOpinion section
Next Post

Thousands of Protesters against Covid-19 rules in Brussels collide with the Police

Latest post

EU-elections-UK

EU elections: UK looks on from the “outside”

1 year ago
Galeries-Royales-Saint-Hubert

What Makes Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert an “Institution”?

1 year ago

Most Read

    Follow Brussels Morning
    Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin

    Browse Important News

    Belgium News
    Brussels News
    Culture and Society News
    Economy News
    EU Institutions News
    European Commission News
    European Council News
    European Parliament News
    Europe News
    Health And Fitness News
    Southeast Europe News
    Sustainable Perspective
    World News
    Diplomacy News
    US Elections News

    About Us

    Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.

    More Info

    • About Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Cookies Policy

    Join Our Newsletter

    Brussels Morning Newspaper – All Rights Reserved © 2024

    No Result
    View All Result
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Belgium News
      • Belgium Police News
      • Brussels News
    • Brussels Bubble
      • European Parliament News
      • European Commission News
      • European Council News
    • Wider Europe
      • Member States
    • World News
    • Business & Society
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Culture & Society
    • Policy Talks
      • Place de la Bourse
      • The Macro-Economist
      • Sustainable Perspective
      • Ambassador’s Corner
      • The American Angle
      • Southeast Europe
    • Print Magazine

    Brussels Morning Newspaper - All Rights Reserved © 2020

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT