Policy Briefing — EU Digital Services & Markets Acts Proposed
The European Commission unveiled the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act proposals to modernise platform liability, content governance, and gatekeeper obligations across the single market.
On 15 Dec 2020 the European Commission published twin legislative proposals: the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA). The package updates the EU’s e-commerce rules with due diligence duties for very large online platforms, audited risk management, and heightened transparency, while imposing ex ante competition obligations on gatekeeper platforms controlling core platform services.
- 15 Dec 2020 — DSA proposal. The DSA introduces systemic risk assessments, crisis response tools, and data access duties for vetted researchers.
- 15 Dec 2020 — DMA proposal. The DMA defines gatekeeper criteria and mandates interoperability, self-preferencing bans, and fair data access obligations.
- 2022 — Legislative adoption. The Council and Parliament finalised both regulations in 2022, triggering phased compliance deadlines from 2023 onward.
Zeph Tech tracks DSA/DMA implementation to brief clients on algorithmic accountability, marketplace liability, and interoperability mandates affecting global platform operations.
Follow-up: The Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act were adopted in 2022; DMA gatekeeper obligations began in March 2024, and DSA duties extend to all intermediary services from February 2024 onward.
Sources
- Proposal for a Regulation on a Single Market for Digital Services (Digital Services Act) — European Commission; The Commission set out due diligence obligations, transparency requirements, and oversight structures for online intermediaries and platforms in the EU.
- Proposal for a Regulation on Contestable and Fair Markets in the Digital Sector (Digital Markets Act) — European Commission; The DMA establishes gatekeeper designation criteria and conduct obligations for large online platforms providing core services in the EU.