The body that regulates broadcasters and online media is to open a contact centre next week to provide users of online services with advice on their rights under new EU rules.

The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) comes fully into force in Ireland and across the EU from tomorrow (17 February).

Coimisiún na Meán (CnaM) has welcomed the imminent application of the DSA, which sets out new rules for how online services deal with illegal content or apply their own rules.

Online safety

The watchdog says that the DSA, the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 (OSMR), and the EU Terrorist Content Online Regulation (TCOR) will come together to form its overall Online Safety Framework.

The framework is aimed at making digital services accountable for how they protect people, especially children, from harm online.

CnaM is to open a user-contact centre on 19 February, to provide advice to users on their rights under the DSA. It will also gather intelligence that will inform the body’s supervisory and enforcement activities.

Jeremy Godfrey (executive chair, Coimisiún na Meán) said: “We will enforce the DSA, so that platforms are accountable for protecting users online, minimising children’s exposure to harmful content and upholding fundamental rights – including freedom of expression.”

European co-operation

In addition, the DSA provides a framework for co-operation between the European Commission and national regulatory authorities across Europe.

CnaM is responsible for regulating services that have their EU headquarters in Ireland, and the European Commission plays a role in overseeing the largest platforms and search engines.

John Evans (Digital Service Commissioner) said that the DSA would “empower” people and civil-society groups to hold platforms to account for dealing with illegal content.

“People should remember, when they spot illegal content, to flag it, so the platform can stop it. We will engage with platforms large and small to ensure that they live up to their legal obligations,” he stated.