EU signs digital services agreement with Ireland
The European Commission has signed an administrative arrangement with the newly established media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, to support new EU online safety rules.
The Digital Services Act (DSA) requires big tech firms to do more to police illegal and harmful content on their platforms.
Ireland will play a leading role in enforcing the DSA, because so many of the internet giants have their European headquarters here.
The DSA requires platforms and search engines to restrict disinformation, quickly remove illegal content and better protect children using the internet.
Under the DSA, companies face fines up to 6% of their global turnover for violating the rules while repeated breaches could see them banned from doing business in the EU.
Coimisiún na Meán will be responsible for implementing the DSA in Ireland and will discharge its new functions from February 2024.
The agreement signed with the European Commission will allow for the exchange of information, good practices, methodologies, technical systems and tools.
“The DSA sets landmark rules to shape a secure and trusted online environment in the EU,” the Commission said in a statement.
“Ensuring closer cooperation with member states and national regulatory authorities has become even more crucial to achieve this in the current context of conflict and uncertainty, particularly with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and now with the terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel,” it added.
Article Source: EU signs digital services agreement with Ireland – Brian O’Donovan – RTE
