EU Commission discards allegations of censorship regarding Digital Services Act

The Digital Services Act (DSA), a comprehensive regulatory framework for online platforms operating within the European Union, has been instrumental in addressing systemic risks while preserving fundamental rights protections. The DSA functions as a safeguard for free speech, providing robust protection across the EU.

According to recent findings, the success rate for content moderation decisions taken by major platforms has reached 35 percent. This means that more than one-third of the initial decisions were deemed unjustified and subsequently reversed, demonstrating the practical implementation of user rights protections under the DSA.

External auditors validate these assessments, creating accountability mechanisms for platform governance. The European Commission maintains ongoing dialogue with designated platforms regarding implementation best practices while maintaining enforcement authority for non-compliance.

The DSA establishes broader obligations for platform risk management, including annual risk assessments addressing systemic threats. It also requires detailed transparency reporting from designated platforms, enabling researchers and policymakers to identify patterns in content moderation effectiveness.

Platform investment in compliance infrastructure continues to expand as enforcement mechanisms mature. Substantial financial penalties provide incentive structures for maintaining adequate content governance systems.

The controversy surrounding censorship allegations highlights the need for clear communication and evidence-based defense of the DSA framework. European Commission Spokesperson for Tech Sovereignty, Thomas Regnier, issued a defense of the DSA on his LinkedIn profile.

The DSA requires Very Large Online Platforms with more than 45 million monthly active users to implement robust content moderation systems while providing users meaningful recourse when they believe content has been wrongfully removed. In the second half of 2024, 16 million content removal decisions taken by TikTok and Meta were challenged by users within the EU framework established by the DSA.

The Digital Services Act also addresses broader tensions between national sovereignty and global platform governance. European regulators assert jurisdiction over platform operations affecting EU users while respecting fundamental rights protections established by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

Technical standards development continues through multi-stakeholder processes involving platform operators, civil society organizations, academic researchers, and regulatory authorities. The European Commission is committed to ensuring the DSA's timely and effective implementation, with key milestones in 2022, 2023, 2024, and beyond.

While the platforms highlighted by the article's figures are not explicitly named, the DSA's far-reaching impact on content moderation practices is undeniable. The DSA establishes a framework that prioritizes user rights, transparency, and accountability, setting a new standard for platform governance in the European Union.