Seeking to ensure safe online environments for users, the Digital Services Act (DSA) sets out a comprehensive accountability and transparency regime for a variety of digital services and platforms operating in the European Union (EU). Covering a spectrum of digital platforms, the DSA harmonises the diverging national rules of European Member States that had emerged under the E-Commerce Directive of 2000. This legislation, with the Digital Markets Act and upcoming EU AI Act – seeks to usher in a new regulatory paradigm for the effective governance of digital technologies in the European Single Market.

This blog focuses on the Independent Auditing provision for Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) and Search Engines (VLOSEs), and how affected entities can ensure compliance with this regulation.