Digital Services Act
Digital services and online platforms are an integral part of our everyday lives. They make our lives easier, whether through convenient shopping on online marketplaces, quick travel bookings or easy communication with friends and family without geographical boundaries. At the same time, however, the platforms also pose considerable challenges. Illegal advertising, unsafe or counterfeit products, false information, hate speech and incitement to violence can be spread quickly and easily online.
The DSA aims to create a safer, more trustworthy and responsible online environment in the EEA. The regulation introduces new liability rules and specific due diligence obligations for online intermediary services, which social media platforms, online search engines, web stores, hosting services and caching intermediary services in particular must comply with. These providers are made responsible for combating the distribution of illegal content on the internet, with the specific requirements and obligations varying depending on the type and size of the online intermediary service. The key measures of the DSA include:
- New supervisory structure to ensure effective supervision. Very large players will be directly supervised by the EU Commission, while smaller market players will be placed under the supervision of national digital services coordinators.
- Special regulations for very large platforms to prevent the spread of disinformation.
- Increased transparency of online advertising and algorithms.
- Introduction of a mechanism for users to report illegal content and challenge platform decisions.
Impact on Liechtenstein
The adoption and implementation of the DSA in Liechtenstein is crucial to ensure uniform rules in the European Economic Area (EEA) and thus improve legal certainty and conditions for businesses. The DSA not only strengthens the digital rights and security of citizens, but also promotes competitiveness and innovation in the digital sector. Companies with fewer than 50 employees or an annual turnover of less than 10 million euros are generally exempt from the obligations of the DSA, which makes it easier to establish themselves in the digital environment.
It is important to emphasize that the DSA is already fully in force in the EU, while Liechtenstein and the other EEA EFTA states - Norway and Iceland - are currently in the process of incorporating the regulation into EEA law. Liechtenstein is actively driving this process forward in order to incorporate the regulations into national law as quickly as possible. Due to the “market place principle”, Liechtenstein companies that focus their online services on the EU must already comply with the new rules. The SFID actively supports affected companies and offers assistance with questions regarding the implementation of the new regulations.