The MEPs of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, meeting on Wednesday 3 December, once again expressed their frustration at the slow progress of the Digital Services Act (DSA): two years after its implementation, no investigation has been completed and some of the text’s provisions leave much to be desired.
In a one-way debate, MEPs were highly critical of the European Commission’s action, particularly with regard to the application of the sanctions provided for in the DSA and the persistent shortcomings in its implementation. Many deplored the lack of feedback, transparency and even concrete results.
“We want simple, precise answers that we don’t have and never have had. Everything is known: the infringements are in the public domain, and we don’t understand why there is no acceleration, no reactivity on the part of the European Commission”, insisted Pierre Jouvet (S&D, French). According to the MEP, despite the forthcoming revision of the regulation, the Commission is showing a “willingness” not to respect and enforce its own rules.
In response to this criticism, the Commission pointed out that the DSA had a proven track record, with 25 ‘very large online platforms’ designated, and that the current investigations required solid, legally impeccable evidence to avoid legal action. A targeted assessment of the DSA and its relationship with other texts was published by the Commission on 17 November (see EUROPE 13753/9). (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)