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A12 TECHNOLOGY
Saturday 29 January 2022

An iPhone displays the apps for Facebook and Messenger in New Orleans, Aug. 11, 2019.
Associated Press
EXPLAINER: How sweeping EU rules

would curb tech companies

By KELVIN CHAN search fellow at the Centre for European
AP Business Writer Reform think tank.
LONDON (AP) — Online companies would Similar efforts are underway in the U.S., but
have to ramp up efforts to keep harmful there are deep divisions between Repub-
content off their platforms and take other licans who criticize platforms for censoring
steps to protect users under rules that Eu- their views and Democrats who slam them
ropean Union lawmakers approved Thurs- for failing to act.
day. "If EU member-states reach agreement
The 27-nation bloc has gained a reputa- with Parliament in the coming months, the
tion as a trendsetter in the growing global EU will show a way that other democra-
push to rein in big tech companies fac- cies can reconcile these different political
ing withering criticism over misinformation, interests," Meyers said.
hate speech and other harmful content WHAT WILL IT COVER?
on their platforms. The Digital Services Act includes a raft of
Here's a look at the draft EU rules, known measures aimed at better protecting in-
as the Digital Services Act, and why they ternet users and their "fundamental rights
would make an impact: online." Tech companies would be held
WHAT IS THE DIGITAL SERVICES ACT? more responsible for content on their plat-
The legislation is part of a sweeping over- forms, with requirements to beef up flag-
haul of the European Union's digital rules ging and removal of illegal content like
aimed at ensuring online companies, in- hate speech or dodgy goods and services
cluding tech giants like Google and Face- sold online like counterfeit sneakers or un-
book parent Meta, protect users on their safe toys.
platforms and treat rivals fairly. It's an up- To address worries that takedown notic-
date of the EU's two-decade-old e-com- es would infringe on freedom of speech,
merce directive. lawmakers added safeguards to ensure
"The Digital Services Act could now be- they're handled in a "non-arbitrary and
come the new gold standard for digital non-discriminatory manner," the EU Parlia-
regulation, not just in Europe but around ment said. Online platforms would have
the world," the lead EU lawmaker on the to be more transparent about their algo-
bill, Christel Schaldemose, said during a rithms that recommend the next video to
debate Wednesday. "Big tech nations like watch, product to buy or news item at the
the U.S. or China are watching closely to top of people's social media feeds. So-
see what we're now going to agree." called recommender systems have been
The proposals are one-half of flagship digi- criticized for leading people to more in-
tal regulations drafted by the bloc. EU law- creasingly extreme or polarizing content.
makers also are working on the Digital Mar- The biggest platforms would have to give
kets Act, which is aimed at reining in the users at least one option for recommenda-
power of the biggest online "gatekeep- tions not based on profiling.
ers." Both will face further negotiations with There are also measures to ban platforms
EU member countries before taking effect. from using "dark patterns" — deceptive
Getting the Digital Services Act through techniques to nudge users into doing
the EU Parliament is "a huge step in tack- things they didn't intend to — as well as re-
ling the social problems caused by online quiring porn sites to register the identities of
platforms," said Zach Meyers, a senior re- users uploading material. q