Answer given by Mr Breton on behalf of the European Commission
10.3.2021
The Commission shares the objective of ensuring a high standard of protecting the freedom of expression and information online.
1. The proposal for a Digital Services Act[1] (DSA) seeks to establish a fair balance between the rights at stake and provides for robust safeguards. The rules are horizontal, technology‐ and service-neutral, apply to different types of intermediary services and various content, and allow sufficient flexibility.
2. The DSA does not impose the use of any technology for content moderation. It lays down transparency measures when platforms use automated tools and imposes a mandatory risk assessment for very large online platforms, including for their content moderation systems and the impact on the exercise of the freedom of expression and information.
3. Online platforms benefit from the freedom to conduct a business in accordance with Union and national law, including the freedom of contract. The DSA sets rules on the content, application and enforcement of terms and conditions of platforms to enhance transparency and protect users, and further obligations on very large online platforms to take reasonable and effective mitigation measures for significant systemic risks.
The Commission also proposed measures in the European Democracy Action Plan[2] to ensure that citizens can participate in the democratic system and make informed decisions, free from interference and manipulation affecting elections and democratic debate. It announced guidance on how to strengthen the Code of Practice on disinformation and raised the need of a robust monitoring system beyond platforms’ self-regulation. The EU’s work will continue to be firmly rooted in EU values and to safeguard freedom of expression and access to legal content.