European Union: Implemented Digital Services Act containing specific compliance rules for very large online platforms

On 17 February 2023, the obligation of online platforms to report the number of monthly users outlined in the Regulation of a Single Market for Digital Services (DSA) is implemented. The European Commission will designate, based on the platforms reports, the "very large online platforms" (VLOPs) and "very large search engines" (VLOSEs). The very large platforms, defined as platforms with over 45 million users in the European Union, are obliged to pursue systemic risks assessments to monitor the dissemination of illegal content, the adverse effects on fundamental rights and their impact on democratic processes, public security, gender-based violence, and physical or mental health of users. Furthermore, such services will be required to offer a content recommendation system that is not based on the profiling of users. The platforms classified as very large will have 4 months to implement measures to comply with the DSA.