The EU is trying to put an end to a "digital Wild West" where big platforms dominate and set rules for themselves," said Arba Kokalari MEP, who negotiated the Digital Services Act (DSA) on behalf of the EPP Group.

She was speaking after an agreement was reached between the European Parliament's negotiating team and the French European Council Presidency on the Act. The DSA is a binding EU-wide set of obligations applicable to all digital services.

The new rules will ensure that European digital companies can reach new customers easily and compete internationally. At the same time, it will lead to the more effective removal of illegal content, increase transparency for consumers, and strengthen the rights of users who have been mistreated by the big platforms.

"The EPP Group fought for a proportionate Regulation that does not overburden small and medium-sized companies with bureaucracy and ensures that the internet remains an open space," Kokalari said. "We have introduced effective measures against illegal content online, strengthened the rights of users and made the DSA more responsive to emergency crises, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine," she added.

Another political group within the EU, Renew Europe, said it was its mission to have a fairer internet where fundamental rights are respected. It was also important not to overburden small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating online, it added.

In fact, the DSA will also tackle the problem of the lack of removal of illegal content and false flagging of content by creating a better system to fight against these practices. It will also contribute to reduce disinformation, more important than ever in light of the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

"This will help fight the worst of the internet, while giving our citizens more rights and protections," Renew Europe MEP Dita Charanzová said. It's a great moment for Europe, which will become the first continent to set up such rules."

"Google, Facebook and other large online platforms will have to act to better protect their users," she added.

This article is part of a content series called Ewropej. This is a multi-newsroom initiative part-funded by the European Parliament to bring the work of the EP closer to the citizens of Malta and keep them informed about msatters that affect their daily lives. This article reflects only the author's view. The European Parliament is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.