The Digital Services Act (DSA) Observatory

The Digital Services Act (DSA) Observatory is a new project run by the Institute for Information Law (IViR) at the University of Amsterdam, which kicked-off in January 2021. The DSA Observatory acts as a hub of expertise with respect to the “Digital Services Act” package presented by the European Commission in December 2020.

The DSA Observatory provides independent scientific input during the DSA debate and to engage different stakeholders on the DSA proposals, in particular on the challenge of confronting platform power from a fundamental rights and democratic values perspective. To achieve these goals, the Observatory will bring together a broad network of platform regulation experts in academia and other relevant stakeholders, including civil society organisations, policymakers and regulators.

The DSA Observatory will closely follow the DSA process and generate regular outputs on relevant developments, including through dissemination activities, workshops and expert meetings.

NEWS

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ANALYSIS

Report: Pathways to Private Enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA)

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By Paddy Leerssen, Anna van Duin, Iris Toepoel, and Joris van Hoboken

The Digital Services Act (DSA) marks a major evolution in EU digital regulation, designed to foster a safer, more predictable, and trustworthy online environment while upholding fundamental rights. While public enforcement, led by the European Commission and national Digital Services Coordinators (DSCs), has received considerable attention, this report focuses on the underexplored yet vital role of private enforcement as a complementary mechanism to ensure compliance with the DSA.

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DSA Audits: How do platforms compare on influencer marketing disclosures?

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By Taylor Annabell, Utrecht University

Under the DSA, social media platforms must provide clear tools for influencers to disclose paid content. But how well do they meet this obligation, and how rigorously is compliance assessed? This post compares eight DSA audit reports on influencer marketing disclosures under Article 26(2) and finds striking inconsistencies in how audits were conducted, what was measured, and how “compliance” was defined. The findings raise broader concerns about audit transparency, platform-defined standards, and the need for clearer guidance on what adequate disclosure—and meaningful oversight—should look like.

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The DSA’s Systemic Risk Framework: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead

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By Magdalena Jóźwiak, DSA Observatory

Drawing on a March 2025 workshop hosted by the DSA Observatory, this post shares reflections from researchers and civil society experts engaging with the DSA’s systemic risk framework—examining legal foundations, enforcement challenges, and the role of the research community in shaping its development.

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Workshop Report: Researchers on Data Access and Preparing for DSA Article 40(4)

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By John Albert and Paddy Leerssen, DSA Observatory

Drawing on a March 2025 workshop hosted by the DSA Observatory, this post shares practical and strategic insights from researchers preparing to make use of Article 40(4), from scoping proposals and navigating compliance to building collective support structures.

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EVENTS

The Digital Services Act Observatory at the Amsterdam Law School will be hosting events on a variety of topics which are relevant to the DSA discussion and process. Information on these events will be posted here.

Please get in touch if you would like to share your ideas for a DSA-related event or discuss your research at one of our events.

Summer course 2024 on “European Platform Regulation”

March 19, 2024/by admin

The DSA and Platform Regulation Conference 2024

July 7, 2023/by admin

23 February 2023 – Expert workshop on “Online journalism: Digital Services Act & Media Freedom Act”

February 20, 2023/by admin

24 November 2021 – Expert Workshop “Access to Justice and Content Moderation”

November 22, 2021/by admin
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ABOUT

The DSA Observatory

The Digital Services Act (DSA) Observatory is a new project run by the Institute for Information Law (IViR) at the University of Amsterdam, which kicked-off in January 2021. The DSA Observatory acts as a hub of expertise with respect to the “Digital Services Act” package presented by the European Commission in December 2020.

Project team

The core project team for the DSA Observatory is composed of prof. Joris van Hoboken, Ilaria Buri, Paddy Leerssen, dr. Ronan Fahy, prof. Natali Helberger, prof. Martin Senftleben, dr. João Pedro Quintais and Doris Bujis.

Funding and collaboration with the Digital Legal Lab

The DSA Observatory is part of the “Digital Transformations of Decision-Making” research initiative of the Amsterdam Law School and contributes to the activities of the Digital Legal Lab, an interuniversity research centre on law and digital technologies run by a research network between four Dutch universities: Tilburg University, the University of Amsterdam, Radboud University Nijmegen and Maastricht University. This joint research initiative, the Digital Legal Studies Sector Plan for legal research is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW). The DSA Observatory was launched thanks to the funding of the Open Society Foundations.

CONTACT

The DSA Observatory team can be reached by email at:

j.v.j.vanhoboken@uva.nl or i.buri@uva.nl

2021 © studiotennekes