EU Reasserts Autonomy in Enforcing DSA and DMA

EU governments have reaffirmed the Union’s autonomy to enforce its digital regulatory framework in draft European Council conclusions circulated this week. The updated language explicitly stresses the EU’s regulatory independence in response to recent warnings from the United States over the enforcement of the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act.

The new wording follows public statements from the US Trade Representative threatening potential fees or restrictions on European-based companies operating in the US market if the EU continues to apply what Washington describes as “discriminatory” digital rules. The warnings referenced possible measures affecting firms such as Accenture, DHL, Mistral, and Spotify, escalating an already tense transatlantic debate on technology governance.

This political clash coincides with increased enforcement activity by the European Commission. Most notably, the Commission recently fined Elon Musk-owned platform X €120 million for failing to comply with DSA transparency obligations. Additional investigations into the platform remain ongoing, including areas related to the spread of online disinformation.

Member states also voiced support for the European Democracy Shield, a non-legislative initiative aimed at countering disinformation and foreign interference, particularly originating from Russia. The draft conclusions underline that online platforms such as Meta, TikTok, and X bear a legal obligation under EU law to address illegal content and systemic risks. The text may still change before formal adoption at the upcoming European Council meeting.