The EU questions the Digital Services Law while the pressure on the big platforms grows

The Digital Services Law (DSA) is in the spotlight. Just a little less than a year since it entered into force, The first claims of a deeper review of the regulations begin to emerge. The European Commission plans to carry out a formal evaluation in 2027, but the recent movements on the global stage and changes in the behavior of large technological platforms are accelerating the debate on their real effectiveness.

DSA was designed to reinforce the responsibility of the great digital platforms, which are those that They have more than 45 million monthly active users, in the constant fight against illegal content and the protection of online fundamental rights. However, his ability to respond to crisis situations is being intensely questioned.

Tobias Schmid, director of the North-Westphalia Rhine “It is not very resistant to crises, but rather a regulation for when it is good time.” This statement is framed in a global context marked by Donald Trump’s return to the US presidency, with a technological policy less favorable to content control and more oriented to deregulation.

The big platforms under the sights

In this new environment, great companies such as Meta They have begun to dismantle key programs, such as the verification of facts in the United States, while platforms such as X have been the focus of controversy due to their permissiveness with polarized content.

Although in Europe these measures remain in force, the Digital Services Law does not expressly oblige to maintain verification systems, It requires “appropriate measures” to mitigate these risks. This situation has generated concern between experts and regulators, especially in terms of misinformation.

In this sense, the platforms are legally obliged to collaborate with the calls Trusted Flaggersbeing these accredited entities that warn about illegal content. However, its impact is still limited. GoogleFor example, works with 300 informants of this type globallybut only received 300 notices in the first quarter of 2025, compared to the more than 9 million videos uploaded in the same period.

Concern in the advertising sector

For marketing and advertising professionals, the lack of effective control over the contents of some digital platforms is a growing challenge. And, relaxation in moderation and verification policies, especially in certain markets such as the United States, has generated great concern in the sector. More and more advertisers choose to get away from environments where brand security is not guaranteed, prioritizing channels that offer greater transparency and responsibility.

To this scenario is also added the European regulations that, although it presents clear guidelines, leaves the interpretation by the platforms themselves. This normative ambiguity presents some instability in the strategic planning of digital campaigns. That is why, for experts, a more solid and effective regulation is urgent that guarantees a reliable digital environment for both users and advertisers.

The possible sanctions in the most strict regulatory future

At the moment, The European Commission It has several procedures against Meta, X and Tiktok open for poor management of illegal content. The Commissioner Henna Virkkunen It has anticipated important sanctions if infractions are confirmed, which could reach 6% of the global annual billing of the affected companies.

Given this situation, The idea that DSA needs a technical review is reinforced: It requires an update that allows you to adapt to a changing digital ecosystem, where misinformation, algorithm manipulation and transparency loss impact not only society, but also on the business and advertising environment.