First set of very large online platforms (VLOPs) and search engines (VLOSEs) was designated on April 25th.
The VLOPs -which are specific online platforms that are subject to additional obligations- are as follows: Alibaba AliExpress, Amazon Store, Apple AppStore, Booking.com, Facebook, Google Play, Google Maps, Google Shopping, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter, Wikipedia, YouTube and Zalando.
Only two very large online search engines were designated, these are Bing and Google Search.
In the next 4 months, the companies mentioned above will have to adapt their systems, resources, and processes for compliance, set up an independent system of compliance, carry out, and report to the Commission, their first annual risk assessment, which basically consists of identifiying their weaknesses and act in consequence to avoid unwanted results.
These are the additional obligations VLOPs and VLOSEs are subject to:
- Implementing mitigation measures tailored to specific systemic risks,
- Having a proper crisis response mechanism, have an independent audit to asses their compliance to the obligations set in the DSA,
- Providing at least one option in their recommender system that is not based on profiling,
- Additional online advertising transparency,
- Providing the Digital Services Coordinator of establishment or the Commission access to data that are necessary to monitor and assess compliance with this Regulation.
- Establishing a compliance function
- Extraordinary transparency reporting obligations
- Paying a supervisory fee
As a consequence of this, the EU Commission is taking us one step closer towards achieving the promised benefits we recipients can take from, such as more user empowerment, less disinformation, and transparency and accountability.
If you would like to read more information about the topic, please click here: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_2413
