The NGO collective European Digital Rights (EDRi), which defends digital rights across the European Union, reacted on Tuesday 8 June to the draft report of the Internal Market Committee (IMCO) on the Digital Service Act (DSA) (see EUROPE 12732/12).
EDRi stresses the need for a DSA that puts an open and fair digital environment at the centre of policy priorities and ensures that the rule of law is not undermined.
The NGO network also raised concerns about the removal of online content. On this point, EDRi believes that it is imperative to define certain terms better.
“Removal of content within 24 hours for ‘public order offences’ and similar vague concepts would allow governments to remove any opposing content they wish, without public scrutiny or transparency”, said Jan Penfrat, senior policy advisor for European Digital Rights.
Finally, EDRi calls for clear rules and procedures to “reduce the power that big technology companies have over our lives”.
The organisation will soon publish a longer analysis of the DSA. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)