EU Digital Services Act Enforcement Intensifies with Probes into Major platforms

The European union is ramping up enforcement of its Digital Services Act (DSA), a landmark law designed to regulate online platforms and protect users. The DSA aims to create a safer digital space by imposing obligations on platforms regarding illegal content, transparency, and user rights. As of late 2023 and continuing into 2024,the EU has initiated several investigations into potential breaches of the DSA by some of the world’s largest tech companies.

What is the Digital Services act (DSA)?

The Digital Services Act, which came into full effect in February 2024, establishes a comprehensive framework for regulating online intermediaries, including social media platforms, online marketplaces, and search engines. It categorizes platforms based on their size and reach, applying stricter rules to the largest platforms – those with over 45 million active users in the EU. These “Very Large Online Platforms” (VLOPs) and “Very Large Online Search engines” (vloses) face heightened scrutiny and obligations.

VLOPs and Oversight

The European Commission directly oversees the 25 largest online platforms, designated as VLOPs and VLOSEs. This initial group included major players like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Amazon, and Zalando.Six additional platforms, including the e-commerce sites Temu and Shein, were later designated, bringing the total to 51.

Platforms not designated as VLOPs/VLOSEs fall under the supervision of national authorities within EU member states. Oversight responsibility is determined by the location of the company’s EU headquarters.

Ongoing Investigations

The Commission has launched several investigations into potential violations of the DSA. Current probes focus on TikTok, Facebook, instagram, and AliExpress, examining issues ranging from the protection of minors to the transparency of advertising and content moderation practices. specifically, TikTok is under investigation for potentially failing to adequately protect children’s mental health and offering addictive design features. Meta (Facebook and Instagram) are facing scrutiny regarding their systems for content moderation and the transparency of political advertising. aliexpress is being investigated for potential failures in combating illegal products.

As of October 23, 2025, none of these investigations have been concluded.

Key Takeaways

• The DSA is a landmark EU law regulating online platforms.
• VLOPs and VLOSEs (platforms with over 45 million EU users) face the strictest regulations.
• The European Commission directly oversees the largest platforms, while national authorities regulate others.
• Investigations are ongoing into TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and AliExpress for potential DSA breaches.

FAQ

What are the potential consequences of violating the DSA?

Companies found in violation of the DSA can face fines of up to 6% of their global annual revenue. More serious or repeated violations could lead to a ban on operating within the EU.

What is the role of national authorities in DSA enforcement?

National authorities are responsible for supervising platforms that are not designated as VLOPs/VLOSEs. They investigate complaints, enforce the DSA’s provisions, and cooperate with the European Commission.

How does the DSA protect users?

The DSA provides users with greater control over their online experience, including the right to report illegal content, access facts about content moderation decisions, and receive transparent explanations of algorithmic recommendations.

Published: 2025/10/23 14:52:24