The Digital Services Act (DSA) is a proposed law in the European Union aimed at regulating digital services and platforms to protect the rights of users and ensure fair competition. The act would impose new obligations on digital service providers and establish a system of enforcement and penalties for non-compliance.
The DSA was proposed by the European Commission in December 2020 as part of its Digital Single Market strategy, which aims to create a single market for digital goods and services in the EU. The proposal follows years of debate and controversy over the role of digital platforms in society, including concerns over online disinformation, hate speech, and the power of large tech companies.
The inventor of the Digital Services Act is not a single individual, but rather a team of policymakers and experts within the European Commission. The proposal was developed over several years by the Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT), with input from stakeholders such as civil society organizations, industry representatives, and academics.
The team responsible for the DSA includes policymakers such as Thierry Breton, the Commissioner for the Internal Market, and Margrethe Vestager, the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age. These individuals have played a key role in shaping the EU’s digital policy and advocating for greater regulation of digital platforms.
The DSA is still in the proposal stage and has not yet been adopted by the EU. It is currently undergoing a process of consultation and revision, with input from stakeholders and EU member states. If adopted, the act would represent a significant shift in the regulatory landscape for digital platforms in the EU, with implications for both users and providers of digital services.
In summary, the Digital Services Act was not invented by a single individual, but rather a team of policymakers and experts within the European Commission. The proposal reflects years of debate and controversy over the role of digital platforms in society, and aims to create a more transparent, accountable, and fair regulatory framework for digital services in the EU.