European Parliament adopts position on new digital rules; EL welcomes new provisions to fight illegal online gambling
Today, 20 January, the European Parliament adopted its negotiating position on the Digital Services Act (DSA) with 530 votes to 78, and 80 abstentions. [1]
”EL Members strongly believe in a high level of consumer protection and are fully committed to the fight against illegal online gambling. The DSA foresees a number of new provisions that could be beneficial to this end. EL hopes that these will be at the disposal of its Members, most notably an improved notice-and-action mechanism, the concept of trusted flaggers and enhanced consumer protection and know-your-business-customer requirements.”
The DSA is a future EU regulation with the aim to create a safer digital space in which users’ rights are protected through rules to tackle illegal products, services or content online; enhance the accountability and transparency of algorithms; and deal with content moderation. Following the release of the proposal by the European Commission in December 2020, Member States in the Council adopted their general approach last November. EL urged the Council ahead of its meeting to exclude the explicit mention of online gambling and betting services from DSA.
The tweaks introduced by the Parliament include a more transparent and informed choice for the recipients of digital services; prohibition of targeting or amplification techniques involving the data of minors for the purpose of displaying ads, as well as targeting individuals on the basis of special categories of data which allow for targeting vulnerable groups. Also, recipients of digital services and organisations representing them must be able to seek redress for any damages resulting from platforms not respecting their due diligence obligations.
”Today EL welcomes the support by MEPs, in particular by Rapporteur Christel Schaldemose to improve the European Commission’s proposal to create a safer digital space for everyone. This marks a milestone update in the regulation of Internet in the EU.”
With the European Parliament now having reached its position, the path is paved towards the so-called ''trilogues'''- negotiations between all the three institutions which will see the final text of the future regulation hammered out. DSA rules could come into force as soon as 2023. EL will continue to closely monitor and – as appropriate – get actively involved in this discussion in the best interest of its Members. [2]
