In addition to the Digital Markets Act, the Digital Services Act will also introduce significant changes to your apps. It is crucial for you to be aware of this.
Digital Services Act: A Different Approach
Tech companies are facing new regulations from the European Union. While the Digital Markets Act focuses on increased transparency for larger parties, the Digital Services Act is already in effect.
Summary of the Digital Services Act
Although most platforms will be subject to new regulations, apps, search engines, and platforms with over 45 million monthly active users need to pay special attention. This primarily affects social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, online stores such as Zalando and AliExpress, and Google services like Google Search and Google Maps.
Within these apps, you now have the following options:
- Disabling the algorithm
- Restricting children from viewing personalized ads
- Limiting personal ads based on religious beliefs or sexual orientation
- More mechanisms to challenge platform decisions
- Ability to report illegal content
- Platforms must take actions to reduce risks to society and democracy, such as combating fake news
Failing to comply with these rules can result in substantial fines up to six percent of the global turnover. Companies may also face temporary blockage in the EU for repeated non-compliance.
What Has Changed?
In practice, there are not many significant alterations to your apps. The primary change lies in the option to disable algorithms. Meta has already implemented this adjustment for Instagram and Facebook. For instance, on Instagram, you can select ‘Following’ instead of ‘For you’ in the app.
TikTok also offers the ability to disregard the algorithm, but users need to navigate through the settings to do so. By going to ‘content preferences’, you can turn off ‘personalized feeds’ to view videos that are popular rather than being tailored to your interests.
Potential Issues with TikTok
The European Commission will investigate whether TikTok is fully complying with the new regulations. Concerns have been raised about the impact of TikTok’s algorithm on teenagers’ health and questions regarding privacy protection. Additionally, TikTok is criticized for not being transparent enough about its data practices.
In response to these allegations, TikTok has stated: “We will continue to collaborate with industry experts to educate young people about TikTok’s safety features and are looking forward to explaining our efforts to the Commission in detail.”
Challenging Decisions
A noticeable change is that users now have the option to challenge decisions made by apps. Previously, platforms like Instagram often deleted content without proper explanation. The new regulations require platforms to provide transparent reasons for removal and offer an appeal process.
Instagram, for example, has established a Supervisory Committee where users can request a review if content removal is disputed. While the process may not be straightforward, the opportunity for appeal exists.
Much More to Unfold
It remains to be seen whether these platforms will adhere to the new regulations. The regulations now hold platforms accountable for inadequate responses to fake news, potentially reducing misleading content in apps.
What About the Digital Markets Act?
The Digital Markets Act will bring more tangible changes to smartphones. Although the official enforcement date is March 7, several companies have already started implementing changes. Learn about the impact of the Digital Markets Act on your smartphone.
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