With the Digital Services Act (DSA) coming into force on February 17, 2024, the European Union has launched its most ambitious challenge yet against the web giants. The mission: to make the internet a safer place.
Imagine the internet as a lawless city, where anyone can say anything without consequences. The DSA can be seen as the equivalent of a digital “highway code,” with a clear and bold goal: to make online platforms safer, more transparent, and more accountable.
What changes for users?
For the first time, when a post is taken down or our account is suspended, we have the right to know why. No more decisions made in the shadows: platforms are now required to explain their choices and give us the opportunity to challenge them. What’s more, if we’re not satisfied with the response, we can appeal through a process that can go as far as the courts. It’s like finally having a digital lawyer on our side.
The DSA is Europe’s most concrete attempt to fight disinformation through the power of law. The idea is simple but revolutionary: to create common rules for all 27 EU countries, so that fake news can no longer “bounce” from one platform or country to another without consequences.
DSA and LGBTQIA+ rights: a double-edged revolution
The Digital Services Act could be the game-changer the LGBTQIA+ community has been waiting for. But like any revolution, it brings both light and shadow—both worth examining.
The first major win? An end to predatory advertising. No more algorithms bombarding you with ads just because you visited an LGBTQIA+ website or searched for information about gender transition. The DSA strictly prohibits using sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion for ad targeting—a level of protection that seemed like science fiction just yesterday.
LGBTQIA+ minors get an added layer of armor: automatic filters against profiling protect them from online bullying, involuntary outings, and hate content. For youth who are often already vulnerable, it’s a breath of fresh air.
Another groundbreaking innovation: the “trusted flaggers.” Imagine civil rights organizations being able to step in directly when LGBTQIA+ content is unfairly censored. Their reports will be given top priority—finally, someone representing the community in the corridors of digital power.
But there’s a darker side too. The vague definition of “illegal content” could trigger preemptive censorship. Platforms, terrified by massive fines (up to 6% of global revenue), might choose to delete everything rather than take risks. The result? Posts about activism, criticism of institutions, or simply queer life stories could vanish into thin air—wrongly labeled as “problematic.” It’s happened before, and it could get worse.
Final call to action
The DSA is a powerful tool, but without the active voice of the LGBTQIA+ community, it risks becoming a dead letter. Participating in consultations, monitoring decisions, getting organized: only then can we turn this law from a promise into a concrete reality for digital rights.