EC opens consultations on Digital Services Act

The European Commission commenced an open public consultation on the Digital Services Act (DSA) legislative package, expected to be finalized by the end of 2020. The DSA legislative package is expected to reinforce the single market for digital services, upgrade EU’s liability and safety rules for digital platforms, and provide smaller businesses with the legal clarity and level playing field they need to compete effectively in the digital economy. The DSA is expected to impact social media platforms, search engines, and other information society services and internet service providers. The public consultation is intended to gather input from a variety of stakeholders, such as online platforms, businesses, civil society, academics, and individuals. The consultation covers issues such as safety online, freedom of expression, fairness, and a level playing field in the digital economy. It will run until 8 September 2020.