The European Union is moving to tighten oversight of the internet’s biggest platforms as part of its updated Digital Services Act. Beginning August 25, the EU will apply enhanced supervision to a core group of large online services to ensure greater accountability for content, safety, and user protections. The focus is on platforms that reach broad audiences across member states, including popular video and social sites, search engines, and major marketplaces. The announcement underscores a shift toward clearer responsibilities for these services as they shape how Canadians and Americans discover, share, and purchase information online.
In practical terms, the new obligations place substantial duties on these services to address risks associated with disinformation, illegal products, and harmful content, while providing more transparent information about moderation policies and content moderation outcomes. The EU describes the scope as expansive, covering a range of operations that influence how users interact with digital ecosystems, how content is surfaced and ranked, and how user safety is maintained at scale. The reforms aim to create a safer and more trustworthy online environment without hindering legitimate innovation or consumer access to services widely used in North America and beyond.
Among the platforms subject to the updated rules are well-known names in video sharing, social networking, search, and shopping. The list includes TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Google’s suite of services, as well as large online marketplaces like AliExpress. The framework also covers digital products and services offered within app ecosystems, including app stores and search platforms, that influence how users discover apps, games, and software. Additional covered entities include Amazon’s marketplace, major app distribution services, and search engines such as Bing and Google, alongside social and professional networks like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. The scope extends to visual and content platforms, encyclopedia projects, and apparel retailers that operate at scale online. The EU emphasizes that this is a collaborative effort to raise standards across the most influential parts of the internet economy while maintaining a level playing field for businesses across North America and Europe alike.