The Digital Services Act and Its Concerns

The Digital Services Act is a recently passed legislation in the European Parliament that regulates online platforms such as Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok. However, the most troubling aspect of this legislation is the introduction of censorship by the European Commission, particularly concerning hate speech and disinformation. The European Commission has oversight over these platforms and can review their policies and regulations. Non-compliance can result in massive fines or even suspension of operations in the European Union. This form of arbitrary bureaucratic power is concerning for democracy as these platforms have become digital town squares where news and commentary are filtered. The issue lies in the vague definitions of hate speech and disinformation, giving the European Commission subjective power over the platforms.