{"id":72004,"date":"2025-04-17T10:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T08:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/?p=72004"},"modified":"2025-04-17T15:17:23","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T13:17:23","slug":"unpacking-the-eu-digital-services-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/article\/digital-services-act-unpacked","title":{"rendered":"Unpacking the EU Digital Services Act"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"72004\" class=\"elementor elementor-72004\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d8bfa6c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d8bfa6c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ca153e2\" data-id=\"ca153e2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c85219c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c85219c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/DSA-16x9-graphics-1024x576.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-72737\" alt=\"Man on his phone in a digital realm design\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/DSA-16x9-graphics-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/DSA-16x9-graphics-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/DSA-16x9-graphics-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/DSA-16x9-graphics-1536x864.webp 1536w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/DSA-16x9-graphics.webp 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a808540 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a808540\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-74bad1c\" data-id=\"74bad1c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3276c78 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3276c78\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Given the impact of digital services on the online and offline world, states, or, in this case, a supranational union with delegated powers, are increasingly seeking to regulate this domain. We live in an age where Big Tech holds unprecedented power\u2014the annual revenue of these giants economically places them ahead of many states\u2019 annual budgets. The DSA is the EU\u2019s first comprehensive and binding regulation of digital service providers in more than twenty years.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bf8d22c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bf8d22c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e95742c\" data-id=\"e95742c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3f4761 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c3f4761\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What is the Digital Services Act?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a8afd19 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a8afd19\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-67beb01\" data-id=\"67beb01\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f6c8d0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7f6c8d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Although it purports to create \u201ca safe online environment,\u201d the DSA is among the most dangerous censorship regimes of the digital age.<\/em><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/eu-digital-services-act-one-year\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The DSA<\/a> is a legally binding regulatory framework that gives the European Commission authority to enforce \u201ccontent moderation\u201d on very large online platforms and search engines (those with more than 45 million users per month) that are established, or offer their services, in the EU.<\/p><p>Most of its provisions came into force in February 2024. Platforms that fail to comply with the regulation face massive financial penalties and even suspension. Through the platform\u2019s compliance with the DSA, individuals can suffer censorship, suspension from online platforms, and criminal prosecution (under national law).<\/p><p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/eli\/reg\/2022\/2065\/oj\/eng\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stated objective<\/a> of the DSA is \u201censuring a safe, predictable and trusted online environment, addressing the dissemination of illegal content online and the societal risks that the dissemination of disinformation or other content may generate, and within which fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter [of Fundamental Rights of the EU] are effectively protected, and innovation is facilitated\u00a0\u00bb.<\/p><p>The Commission <a href=\"https:\/\/commission.europa.eu\/strategy-and-policy\/priorities-2019-2024\/europe-fit-digital-age\/digital-services-act_en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">claims<\/a> that the DSA creates \u201clegal certainty,\u201d \u201cgreater democratic control,\u201d and \u201cmitigation of systemic risks, such as manipulation or disinformation\u201d\u2014but, in reality, it is an authoritarian censorship regime antithetical to democracy.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6256bd6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6256bd6\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8a7cf77\" data-id=\"8a7cf77\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-54f5697 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"54f5697\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Why is the DSA an extreme threat to fundamental freedoms?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f0b12a0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f0b12a0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d474134\" data-id=\"d474134\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-58307cf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"58307cf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The DSA requires platforms to censor \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk\/is-the-eus-digital-services-act-compliant-with-the-right-to-freedom-of-expression\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">illegal content<\/a>,\u201d which it broadly defines as anything that is not in compliance with EU law or the law of any Member State (Article 3(h)). This could result in the lowest common denominator for censorship across the whole EU. Furthermore, authoritarian governments could adopt the blueprint, claiming that Western liberal states endorse it.<\/p><p>The DSA is deeply flawed. It is built on the idea that \u201cbad speech\u201d is best countered by censorship rather than robust discussion. Furthermore, the DSA gives the European Commission broad power over how platforms handle speech, which undermines the free expression essential to democratic societies.<\/p><p>If a censorship law such as the DSA is the \u201cgold standard,\u201d as the Commission has praised its own construct, authoritarian governments of the world will readily adopt the model.<\/p><p>Allowing \u201cillegal content\u201d to potentially be determined by one country\u2019s vague and overreaching laws pits the DSA against international law standards that require any restrictions on speech to be precisely defined and necessary. This is extremely problematic given the increasing number of absurd so-called \u201chate speech\u201d laws potentially criminalizing peaceful speech throughout Europe.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6fc7c6d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6fc7c6d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><strong>Example 1:<\/strong> Germany\u2019s highly controversial NetzDG Law, enacted in 2017, forces digital service providers to enforce sweeping online restrictions on certain kinds of content, linking to provisions of the criminal code and including the broad offence of \u201cinsult\u201d. A person in Germany could see something \u201cinsulting\u201d online that they claim is illegal under German law, file a complaint under the DSA, and trigger a take-down of the content for all countries in the EU, including countries where \u201cinsult\u201d is not a criminal offense.<br \/><br \/><\/li><li><strong>Example 2:<\/strong> The DSA forces digital service providers to block specific people or messages, even those that come from outside the EU, from being heard by Europe. A Latin American president says something that a German believes violates German law. Under the DSA, that speech could be blocked (\u201ccontent moderated\u201d) from all EU countries.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-37dea10 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"37dea10\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-69bc5f0\" data-id=\"69bc5f0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37f1a6d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"37f1a6d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How does the DSA censor speech?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c63623a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c63623a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-76c9880\" data-id=\"76c9880\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-566105c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"566105c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>The DSA is at the heart of Europe\u2019s censorship industrial complex, consisting of a number of interwoven regulations and codes that give an unaccountable bureaucracy broad power to censor speech. Censorship occurs through vast \u201ccontent moderation\u201d networks coupled with a powerful enforcement mechanism to force platforms to comply.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-351396d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"351396d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/DSA-16x9-graphics-1-1024x576.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-72742\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/DSA-16x9-graphics-1-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/DSA-16x9-graphics-1-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/DSA-16x9-graphics-1-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/DSA-16x9-graphics-1-1536x864.webp 1536w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/DSA-16x9-graphics-1.webp 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9fed738 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9fed738\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\u201cContent Moderation\u201d<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-53a9fce elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"53a9fce\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>The unelected and largely unaccountable Commission has positioned itself under the DSA to enable sweeping censorship in the name of \u201cpublic safety\u201d and \u201cdemocracy\u201d. It does this through a complicated mega-structure that allows the Commission to pull the strings of censorship, making private enterprises complicit and forcing them to comply with the threat of draconian fines.<\/em><\/p><p>The DSA creates a censorship industrial complex consisting of an expansive web of outsourced content flaggers, national coordinators, monitoring reporters, and other authorities, with the European Commission at its head. This is a business model dependent on finding content to censor and inconsistent with the standards of the rule of law.<\/p><p>The structure is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thepublicdiscourse.com\/2025\/03\/97461\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">intentionally unnavigable<\/a> for the regular citizen to determine what is allowable speech. As platforms have the obligation to moderate content, the Commission can hide behind the DSA to claim that it itself is not censoring speech.<\/p><p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/europeanconservative.com\/articles\/commentary\/the-wests-great-free-speech-divide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DSA<\/a> applies directly to all Member States without requiring national implementation. National regulators work with existing legal frameworks, and they create new structures to apply the DSA alongside domestic laws. In the event of a conflict, the DSA overrides national laws.<\/p><p>Content is policed by so-called \u201ctrusted flaggers,\u201d including NGOs and private entities, and may even include law enforcement agencies like Europol. This deputizes organizations with their own agendas to enforce censorship at scale.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b39d181 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b39d181\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This system of \u201cflaggers\u201d reports content that they deem \u201cillegal\u201d to the platform. The platform must prioritize flagged content for removal. If the platform deems the content illegal, it must quickly remove it or disable access (by geo-blocking or hiding visibility).<\/p><p>Very large platforms also are obligated to proactively prevent \u201cillegal content\u201d by conducting regular risk assessments to identify how their services may spread \u201cillegal content\u201d. Under Article 34, these include <em>\u201cnegative effects on civic discourse and electoral processes, and public security\u201d<\/em> and <em>\u201ceffects in relation to gender-based violence, the protection of public health and minors and serious negative consequences to the person\u2019s physical and mental well-being\u00a0\u00bb<\/em>. The efforts include: adapting their design, terms and conditions, algorithmic systems, advertising, content moderation, including for \u201chate speech,\u201d and awareness-raising measures.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e93e711 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e93e711\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Enforcement<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b2456f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7b2456f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>A powerful enforcement mechanism ensures compliance. Under the threat of enormous financial penalties and suspension, digital service providers are forced to censor and potentially suspend individuals, and individuals may even be criminally prosecuted.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f0126bd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f0126bd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Penalties for Individual Users:<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8ff764f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8ff764f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li>If, after content is flagged, the platform deems it illegal after its own review, it must remove it or disable access and notify the account.<br \/><br \/><\/li><li>If individuals persistently post \u201cillegal content,\u201d platforms can suspend their accounts (after having issued a warning and with an obligation to be proportionate and for a reasonable period of time).<br \/><br \/><\/li><li>Every Member State has a designated Digital Services Coordinator to enforce compliance with the DSA. The Coordinator can seek court orders to rule on the \u201cillegal\u201d nature of content on platforms and then fine and potentially suspend online platforms. If a user posts content that the platform suspects violates criminal laws in so far as it is \u201c<em>i<\/em><em>nvolving a threat to the life or safety of a person or persons<\/em>\u201d (Article 18(1)), the platform is required to notify the police, triggering potential domestic prosecution.<br \/><br \/><ul><li>This could happen under one of the many over-broad \u201chate speech\u201d criminal laws in Europe. If the \u201chate speech\u201d was subjectively determined to threaten the life or safety of a person or persons, it is possible that even peaceful speech without a real threat could be prosecuted (e.g., if, in the case of <a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/cases\/paivi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">P\u00e4ivi R\u00e4s\u00e4nen<\/a>, someone argued that her Twitter bible post endangered those who identify as LGBT).<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4f3a151 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4f3a151\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Penalties for Platforms<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b160afa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b160afa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li>Platforms evaluate content under the threat of crippling fines with every incentive to censor and none to uphold free speech. They face little to no punishment for unjustly banning content and enormous penalties if they refuse to censor.<br \/><br \/><\/li><li>If a platform\u00a0refuses to remove or restrict access\u00a0to \u201cillegal content\u201d after it has been flagged\u2014especially by a\u00a0\u201ctrusted flagger\u201d\u00a0or regulatory authority\u2014the platform may face serious repercussions.<br \/><br \/><\/li><li>The Digital Service Coordinators have broad powers to investigate platforms, issue orders, impose fines, and escalate cases to the European Commission. When dealing with very large platforms, the Commission can override the Coordinators at any time, giving it direct control over censorship enforcement. For these platforms, the Commission has the same powers as the Coordinators but lacks the requirement of \u201cindependence\u201d to which the Coordinators are subject. (Article 50(2)).<br \/><br \/><\/li><li>The Commission or national regulators can impose\u00a0fines of up to 6% of the platform\u2019s global annual turnover\u00a0for non-compliance, amounting to billions. If non-compliance persists, platforms may face\u00a0periodic penalty payments. Finally, it can restrict access to the platform within the EU\u00a0or suspend operations.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-464819b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"464819b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Enhanced Enforcement<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-30b8f37 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"30b8f37\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li>The planned \u201cEuropean Democracy Shield\u201d will strengthen the DSA and impose even stricter regulations on online speech. Its stated aim is to protect the EU from foreign information manipulation and interference, particularly in the digital realm, focusing on the integrity of elections and political processes. Together with the DSA, it can be weaponized to target peaceful expression, further empowering unelected bureaucrats to censor.<br \/><br \/><\/li><li>The DSA grants emergency powers that allow the European Commission to demand additional censorship measures from online platforms during times of crisis, without sufficiently precise definitions or limitations.<br \/><br \/><ul><li>Crisis is defined as \u201c<em>where extraordinary circumstances lead to a serious threat to public security or public health in the Union or in significant parts of it<\/em>\u201d (Article 36(2)); \u201c<em>Such crises could result from armed conflicts or acts of terrorism, including emerging conflicts or acts of terrorism, natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes, as well as from pandemics and other serious cross-border threats to public health<\/em>\u201d (para 91).<br \/><br \/><\/li><li>The Commission may adopt a decision requiring very large platforms to take certain actions in response to the crisis: 1) assess how their services contribute to a serious threat, 2) apply measures to prevent, eliminate, or limit the threat, 3) report back to the Commission on those measures.<br \/><br \/><\/li><li>The potential extraordinary measures it identifies are: \u201c<em>adapting content moderation processes and increasing the resources dedicated to content moderation, adapting terms and conditions, relevant algorithmic systems and advertising systems, further intensifying cooperation with trusted flaggers, taking awareness-raising measures and promoting trusted information and adapting the design of their online interfaces<\/em>\u201d. (para 91)<br \/><br \/><\/li><li>In a worst-case scenario, the European Commission could crack down on speech at will whenever it decrees a crisis and force platforms to \u201cmitigate risks\u201d. This would prevents citizens from accessing information and sharing views, handing extraordinary power to bureaucrats to control narratives in times of upheaval.\u00a0<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f9c803b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f9c803b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/DSA-16x9-graphics-2-1024x576.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-72747\" alt=\"Paul Coleman&#039;s quote concerning the EU and the US on the DSA and censorship.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/DSA-16x9-graphics-2-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/DSA-16x9-graphics-2-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/DSA-16x9-graphics-2-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/DSA-16x9-graphics-2-1536x864.webp 1536w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/DSA-16x9-graphics-2.webp 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b1ec8bc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b1ec8bc\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9fc279b\" data-id=\"9fc279b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a16c68 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6a16c68\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Is there recourse for a censored individual or platform forced to comply with the DSA?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bc9d5ad elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bc9d5ad\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1b72d68\" data-id=\"1b72d68\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4fdc25d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4fdc25d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>The DSA severely limits the power of national courts to protect citizens\u2019 free speech rights. National courts become the censorship long arm of the Commission. International appeal is possible but costly and onerous. <\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-99a457a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"99a457a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Appeal Options for Individuals<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f8c842 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3f8c842\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A censored individual can try to appeal directly to the platform, use a certified out-of-court dispute resolution mechanism, or appeal to the Digital Services Coordinator. While the out-of-court dispute settlement bodies offer a relatively easy appeal option (5 euros for the individual to submit), their decisions are not binding, and the platforms are only required to engage in good faith. If the platform does not, it leaves the individual user with only more expensive and lengthy judicial recourse. Faced with that reality, many are likely to just submit to censorship or preemptively self-censor.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-12cb4ae elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"12cb4ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Judicial Recourse<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9a084be elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9a084be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Individuals or the platform can technically challenge censorship in national courts, but the courts are required to comply with Commission decisions. Article 82 states: a <em>\u201cnational court shall not take any decision which runs counter to that Commission decision. National courts shall also avoid taking decisions which could conflict with a decision contemplated by the Commission in proceedings\u201d.<\/em><\/p><p>Individuals or platforms can take their cases to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), but this is a complex and costly process with strict requirements. The CJEU system takes 1-2 years for a ruling, sometimes longer, and rarely grants interim relief measures.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f933f63 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f933f63\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-bdc57eb\" data-id=\"bdc57eb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1fe1af8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1fe1af8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Is the DSA a problem only for Europe?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a6d494 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4a6d494\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>The DSA is a digital gag order with global consequences because it can censor you no matter where you live. Because the DSA applies to \u201cVery Large Online Platforms\u201d and search engines accessed within the EU but with a global presence, DSA censorship impacts the entire world.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-64713ad elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"64713ad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Extraterritorial Applicability<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bea3b26 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bea3b26\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The DSA explicitly states its extraterritorial applicability as it covers platforms used by people \u201cthat have their place of establishment or are located in the Union, irrespective of where the providers of those intermediary services [the platforms] have their place of establishment\u201d. (Article 2(1))<\/p><p>While the DSA states in Article 9(2)(b) that takedown orders should be <em>\u201climited to what is strictly necessary to achieve its objective,\u201d<\/em> there remain grave extraterritorial concerns.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-29691c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"29691c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">De Facto Global Censorship Standards<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-059421e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"059421e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Platforms may be inclined to adapt their international content moderation policies to EU censorship. If platforms deem something \u201cillegal\u201d under EU rules, that content may be banned everywhere, even in countries with strong free speech protections.<\/p><p>In its letter to European Commissioner Henna Virkkunen, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee wrote: <em>\u201cThough nominally applicable to only EU speech, the DSA, as written, may limit or restrict Americans\u2019 constitutionally protected speech in the United States. Companies that censor an insufficient amount of \u2018misleading or deceptive\u2019 speech\u2014as defined by EU bureaucrats\u2014face fines up to six percent of global revenue, which would amount to billions of dollars for many American companies. Furthermore, because many social media platforms generally maintain one set of content moderation policies that they apply globally, restrictive censorship laws like the DSA may set de facto global censorship standards.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a36c047 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a36c047\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Europe in the Dark<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c72c623 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c72c623\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Individuals outside of Europe could find themselves censored within Europe. This could happen to even a head of state or individual with enormous international reach. In the worst case, blocking content from reaching the 500 million inhabitants of the European Union has the potential to cut an entire continent out of the conversation\u2014a draconian move with world-changing impact.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7e59f48 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7e59f48\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cf4089a\" data-id=\"cf4089a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5053f1c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5053f1c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What is ADF International doing to challenge the DSA?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-079ef53 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"079ef53\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The DSA is irreconcilable with the human right to free speech. It must be repealed or substantially reformed to protect open discourse and fundamental freedoms in the EU and across the world. We cannot allow the DSA to become the global model for digital speech control.<\/p><p>ADF International is committed to challenging violations of free speech resulting from the DSA and building critical momentum to repeal or substantially reform this censorial framework. We are working to amend or strike down the parts of the DSA that undermine freedom of expression.<\/p><p>There is no disagreement that certain expression is illegal (e.g. child exploitation, incitement to terrorism) and every social media platform has a legal obligation to restrict this content. The DSA goes far beyond this. Instead, the DSA has created a censorship mega structure to ban \u201cillegal content\u201d without defining what \u201cillegal content\u201d is. Over time, this mega structure could censor speech that any person in any EU country considers \u201cillegal\u201d according to whatever law is either in force now or may be passed in the future. Behind the 100+ pages of complex legislation hides a blank cheque for censorship.<\/p><p><em>What can be done to challenge the DSA at the European level?<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c40495 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8c40495\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><strong>Equip Member States to initiate an <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/EN\/legal-content\/summary\/annulment-of-legal-acts-by-the-court-of-justice.html\"><strong>action for annulment<\/strong><\/a><strong> before the CJEU<\/strong> &#8211; Articles 277 and 263 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU): Grounds to invoke include the lack of competence of the Commission, an infringement of the Treaties and the EU Charter (free speech), and a misuse of powers. This could result in having the DSA or parts of it declared \u201cinapplicable\u201d.<br \/><br \/><\/li><li><strong>Mobilize Member States in the Council to repeal the DSA through a political decision:<\/strong> Repealing legislation once adopted is very difficult, and the procedure is similar to that for adopting the legislation. The Commission could initiate the repeal, but that appears politically unlikely. Instead, Member States in the Council can build a critical mass and take action.<br \/><br \/><\/li><li><strong>Preliminary reference procedure before the CJEU <\/strong>&#8211; Article 267 TFEU: In the course of national litigation, any party or the judge, ex officio, can raise a question of EU law, particularly on its interpretation. Such questions could include the conformity of the DSA (e.g., the definition of illegal content under Article 3(h) and the obligation to act against illegal content under Article 9(2)(b)) with Article 11 of the EU Charter (freedom of expression and information). The decision to submit the reference to the CJEU rests entirely with the national judge, except for the situation when the case is at the court of the last instance, and the question of interpretation of EU law is necessary to decide the legal question at issue.<br \/><br \/><\/li><li><strong>Engage in the\u00a0<\/strong><strong>DSA review process:<\/strong> According to Article 91 of the DSA, by 17 November 2025, the Commission shall evaluate and report to the European Parliament, the Council, and the European Economic and Social Committee. The scope of this first review is limited, and it will be followed by another review in 2027 and then\u00a0every five years.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Given the impact of digital services on the online and offline world, states, or, in this case, a supranational union with delegated powers, are increasingly seeking to regulate this domain. We live in an age where Big Tech holds unprecedented power\u2014the annual revenue of these giants economically places them ahead of many states\u2019 annual budgets. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":72737,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1314],"tags":[226,63,1254,1277,1256,25,1012,64,36],"class_list":["post-72004","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","tag-adina-portaru","tag-censorship","tag-digital-services-act","tag-eu","tag-european-commission","tag-free-speech","tag-freedom-of-expression","tag-freedom-of-speech","tag-paivi"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Unpacking the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) - ADF International<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Although it purports to create \u201ca safe online environment,\u201d the DSA is among the most dangerous censorship regimes of the digital age.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/fr\/article\/digital-services-act-unpacked\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"fr_FR\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Unpacking the EU Digital Services Act (DSA)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Although it purports to create \u201ca safe online environment,\u201d the DSA is among the most dangerous censorship regimes of the digital age.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/article\/digital-services-act-unpacked\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"ADF International\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/facebook.com\/adfinternational\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-04-17T08:30:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-17T13:17:23+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/DSA-16x9-graphics.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Philipp Bues\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Unpacking the EU Digital Services Act (DSA)\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Although it purports to create \u201ca safe online environment,\u201d the DSA is among the most dangerous censorship regimes of the digital age.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@adfintl\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@adfintl\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"\u00c9crit par\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Philipp Bues\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Dur\u00e9e de lecture estim\u00e9e\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"14 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/article\/digital-services-act-unpacked#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/article\/digital-services-act-unpacked\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Philipp Bues\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/fr\/#\/schema\/person\/6b776fc8535453c6aad8a6f9d78e6141\"},\"headline\":\"Unpacking the EU Digital Services Act\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-17T08:30:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-17T13:17:23+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/article\/digital-services-act-unpacked\"},\"wordCount\":2861,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/fr\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/article\/digital-services-act-unpacked#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/DSA-16x9-graphics.webp\",\"keywords\":[\"Adina Portaru\",\"censorship\",\"digital services act\",\"EU\",\"European Commission\",\"free speech\",\"freedom of expression\",\"freedom of speech\",\"Paivi\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Article\"],\"inLanguage\":\"fr-FR\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/article\/digital-services-act-unpacked\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/article\/digital-services-act-unpacked\",\"name\":\"Unpacking the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) - 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