The authorities did not appoint coordinators or impose sanctions.
The European Commission has taken the Czech Republic, Spain, Cyprus, Poland and Portugal to court for failing to comply with the new Digital Services Act, which it says has failed to meet key requirements that have come into force across the EU.
The main complaint is that the authorities of these states have not yet appointed or empowered a national coordinator of digital services. It is this body that should monitor compliance with the law in each country.
In addition, the countries in question have not yet approved mechanisms for punishing violations of the law. This means that if violations are detected, the platforms do not yet have a clear understanding of what sanctions may follow.
The Digital Services Act came into force for major internet companies in 2023 and for everyone else in February 2024. It obliges online platforms to do more to combat illegal content, disinformation and other harmful material.
The EU believes that a unified approach to internet regulation is necessary to ensure user safety and preserve the digital space. The lack of active action by individual countries puts the implementation of the law at risk across the union.
The issue will now be heard by the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Source: Reuters
