EU Commission Adopts Transparency Rules for Digital Services Act

The European Commission has adopted an Implementing Regulation to enhance transparency in content moderation practices by providers of intermediary services under the Digital Services Act (DSA). This regulation mandates that all relevant providers furnish clear and comparable information regarding their content moderation activities, thereby promoting transparency and public accountability within the EU’s digital services sector. The regulation introduces standardized templates and rules for transparency reporting, addressing previous inconsistencies in reporting practices that hindered effective assessment and comparison.

Beginning on July 1, 2025, providers will need to collect data according to the new Implementing Regulation, with the first harmonized reports due at the start of 2026. The DSA also introduces additional transparency measures, such as the publication of average monthly user numbers, more detailed information on recommender system parameters, data access for researchers, and enhanced transparency in advertising. These measures aim to provide a comprehensive view of digital service operations, fostering greater accountability.

To maintain consistency across DSA transparency tools, the requirements for submitting statements of reasons to the DSA Transparency Database will be updated to align with the data categories specified in the Implementing Regulation. Providers must comply with these new requirements starting on July 1, 2025, ensuring that the transparency reporting templates and statements of reasons are harmonized and comprehensive.

Source: Commission harmonises transparency reporting rules under the Digital Services Act