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EU Digital Services Act's Ombudsman Scores Wins Against Misinformation, Despite Platform Resistance

The EU's new ombudsman for digital services is making headway against harmful content. But some platforms, like YouTube, are pushing back, raising questions about their commitment to the law.

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Online Networks: Ombudsman Criticizes YouTube for Lack of Cooperation - EU Digital Services Act's Ombudsman Scores Wins Against Misinformation, Despite Platform Resistance

The EU Digital Services Act (DSA) has led to the creation of an independent user complaints body, known as the Digital Services Coordinator (DSC), in each EU member state. This ombudsman role aims to tackle misinformation and hate speech, and has already handled over 3300 valid requests, with users winning in three-quarters of cases. However, platforms like YouTube have been reluctant to cooperate fully, citing data protection concerns.

The DSA, designed to rein in big tech companies, mandates these platforms to set up an independent complaints system. Users can submit appeals online via the appealscentre.eu website. The ombudsman, or DSC, handles complaints for major platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Pinterest. Despite YouTube's refusal to provide user data without a data protection agreement, the ombudsman has still achieved success in most cases, often in spite of platforms' cooperation.

Systemic violations under the DSA can result in hefty fines, potentially reaching billions of euros. YouTube suggested users submit complaints through its in-house appeals system instead, raising concerns about its commitment to the DSA's spirit and letter.

The EU Digital Services Act has established an ombudsman system to protect users and curb harmful content. While the ombudsman has shown success, platforms' reluctance to fully cooperate, as seen with YouTube, may hinder the DSA's effectiveness. The future will reveal whether platforms comply or face significant fines for non-compliance.

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