Policy briefing about Digital Services Act

The EU Digital Services Act (DSA) came into effect in early 2024. Colleagues from Maastricht University have prepared a policy briefing, exploring how the DSA can contribute to protecting democracy, fundamental rights, and well-being in the digital age. This collection critically reflects on both the opportunities and challenges of digitalisation, providing policy recommendations for a fair and safe digital future.

My own contribution focuses on how the DSA thinks about the users it aims to protect. I argue that more attention should be paid to users as citizens, and not only as consumers. I also argue that the impacts of digital services for non-users of those services should be considered.

The Policy Briefing was prepared by Studio Europa, and edited by my colleague, Philippe Verduyn. Other contributors are Tsjalling Swierstra, Katleen Gabriels, Emma Prebreza, Jan-Willem van Prooijen, Jessica Alleva, Visara Urova, Thomas Frissen, Konstantia Zarkogianni, Dominik Mahr, Jonas Heller and Tim Hilken.

Read the full collection here. A series of interviews with contributors are also being prepared. Mine appeared already in January, following the news that Meta/Zuckerberg was abandoning fact checking..

A launch event will be held on 15 May. More details to follow as they become available.