With the enactment of the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the European Union has laid the groundwork for a new regulatory framework for the digital world.
These two regulations, which together make up the so-called Digital Services Package, aim to strengthen the security of online users, protect competition, and foster a more transparent and sustainable digital ecosystem.
- Digital Services Act (DSA) - effective Feb. 17, 2024, is designed to protect consumers and counter the spread of illegal content and products.
- Digital Markets Act (DMA) - effective May 2, 2023, regulates large digital platforms (so-called gatekeepers) and limits their abuse of power.
Together, they represent a decisive step toward a European digital sovereignty.
Main goals
The Digital Services Package has four key purposes:
- Creating a secure digital environment for citizens and businesses.
- Strengthening trust in online marketplaces.
- Prevent abuse of dominant position and unfair practices.
- Promoting a competitive and sustainable digital single market.
DSA: increased consumer protection
The Digital Services Act introduces concrete tools to protect citizens in the area of e-commerce and online content:
- Vendor tracking: mandatory identity verification (Know Your Business Customer).
- Reporting and prompt action: prompt removal of illegal content or products.
- Suspension of repeat offenders: stop operators who repeatedly place non-compliant products on the market.
- Transparency: clarity on seller identity, provenance, and product liability.
Sectoral impacts
The DSA will play a particularly relevant role in sectors such as textiles, EEE (electrical and electronic equipment), and batteries, where the risk of counterfeit, unsafe, or CE/EPR-uncompliant products coming onto the market is high.
DMA: more equitable digital markets
Instead, the Digital Markets Act focuses on large platforms that have a dominant position in the market, mandating:
- Obligations: interoperability, ability to uninstall preinstalled apps, access to data by user enterprises.
- Prohibitions: stop self-preferencing their services, blocking cheaper external offers, and misuse of commercial data collected by platforms.
Expected benefits
- Consumers: more choice, more transparency.
- SMEs: a more level playing field and a chance to compete on a real basis.
- EU market: stimulating innovation and reducing anti-competitive practices.
Conclusions
DSA and DMA work in synergy:
- the former protects the safety and rights of consumers,
- the second ensures fairness and competition in digital markets.
Together, they represent a pillar of European digital sovereignty, helping to build a more secure, transparent and competitive online environment, benefiting citizens, businesses and the entire digital ecosystem.
