When digital platforms emerged a decade ago, the societal challenges arising from harnessing new technologies and services seemed straightforward, and the possibilities were endless. Today, those same platforms have become so significant across the globe, indispensable even for our economy, society, and democracy, harnessing scale and networks to dramatic effect, becoming the new battleground for digital sovereignty.
Today platforms are controlling the kind of online content we read, watch and share. And there are no limits or rules as to how platforms disseminate, amplify or suppress online content for their billions of users worldwide. As a result, they use algorithms and digital technologies that optimise user engagement and keep people clicking, liking, and sharing no matter what. Unfortunately, such business models do not have the public interest at heart and instead are leading to the opposite undesirable societal outcome by weaponising key information technologies and the internet.
Until recently, policymakers believed that their role was to facilitate this change and not obstruct digital companies' way. By doing so, we have created a Digital Wild West without any rules or borders, leaving people defenceless, exposed, and exploited for their vulnerabilities. The recent revelations from the Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen have confirmed, what I have been warning through my work, that the current models of the very large platforms are causing deep societal harm, and they have known all along about it.
Time has changed, and we can do it better than this. People are demanding that we step in on their behalf and create a safe and healthier digital environment. We are asking ourselves how we can take back digital control, preserve democracy, and assert clear and transparent rules to maximize the benefits and mitigate the damage that is becoming increasingly apparent. The Digital Services Act (DSA) proposed by the Commission might be the correct answer.
The EU lawmakers have the opportunity with this legislation to "set a gold standard" and take a tough stance in regulating big tech. If we don't act now, we will miss a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to place rules around the web and decide how it interacts with and influences our societies. The EU can become a global leader in modern online platform regulation for social media, such as Facebook, Amazon, and Google.
As a rapporteur for the own-initiative report on the Digital Services Act, I called on the future legislation to empower people to control the kind of online content they wish to read, watch and share. I have also insisted that the DSA should address the harvesting of personal data that allows social media platforms to target harmful content to users in the first place. Ending surveillance of our citizens is an absolute prerequisite for building a healthier, rights-respecting online environment designed for people instead of digital corporations.
The Danish MEP Christel Schaldemose, the rapporteur for the Commission legislation on the DSA, is also of the opinion that the DSA is of paramount importance. "Today, we only have the basis of the e-commerce directive to regulate the platform's services. This is not enough. The e-commerce directive is old. It was adopted in 2000. The online world looked very different at that time. Today the platforms play a crucial role in our everyday life. Like we do in the offline world, we need to have a clear rulebook for the online world. If we succeed, the users will get more rights and have a more safe online environment." said the Danish MEP.
In her work, MEP Schaldemose focuses on the online marketplaces, which are not doing enough to prevent dangerous goods from being sold on the market, trying to find a way to make online marketplaces safer for consumers. She also addresses the social media that have become public spaces and therefore need to be transparent and accountable for their services, especially for how their recommender systems and algorithms work. "It's not easy, but it's very important in order to protect our democracy, level playing field for companies, and to protect the consumers.," said MEP Schaldemose.
However, to achieve this, we must look beyond mandating quick content deletion and fix what is really broken. The time has come to be ambitious and address everything from user safety, consumer protection, targeted advertisement, surveillance of users, transparency, accountability, and end tech giants' ability to gain the digital economy for their dividends. The DSA should not work towards maximising tech giants' profits but towards safer digital space for all users, where fundamental rights and public interests are protected online.
Alex Agius Saliba is a member of the European Parliament
W: alexagiussaliba.com
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