Brussels, 26 April 2023 (TDI): The EU Commission has named 17 very big digital platforms and 2 online search engines to be regulated under Digital Services Act.

The platforms have been designated based on the user data that they had to publish by 17 February 2023.

The platform and search engine that reach at least 45 million end users were designated. The companies now have to comply within four months with the full set of obligations under the DSA following their designation.

The DSA will be enforced through a pan-European supervisory architecture. The Commission is the competent authority for supervising designated platforms and search engines.

The Commission will work in close cooperation with the Digital Services Coordinators in the supervisory framework established by the DSA.

The Digital Services Coordinators are the national authorities. They are responsible for the supervision of smaller platforms and search engines as well. However the EU Member States need to establish these national authorities by 17 February 2024.

The commission has recently launched the European Centre for Algorithmic Transparency (ECAT).The ECAT will provide support with assessments as to whether the functioning of algorithmic systems is in line with the risk management obligations.

The Commission is also setting up a digital enforcement ecosystem. It will bring together expertise from all relevant sectors.

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On 15 December 2020, the Commission made the proposal on the DSA together with the proposal on the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

The purpose of the proposals was to develop a comprehensive framework to ensure a safer, more fair digital space.

In April 2022 the political agreement was reached by the EU co-legislators whereas on 16 November 2022 the DSA entered into force.