The impact of the Digital Services Act (DSA) across the European Union depends largely on the work of the national Digital Services Coordinators (DSCs). To understand how the law is translated into practice, EPD, together with Democracy Reporting International and Civitates held three focus group discussions with 12 stakeholders, including 8 DSC representatives from 6 member states. Our discussions highlighted several challenges in implementing the DSA at the national level:
- Delays in passing national laws have led many DSCs to rely on informal enforcement, with political instability and budget issues slowing progress further.
- Resource shortages and difficulties in recruitment compound the problem.
- Confidence in the trusted flagger system is low, with the impression that the system has poorly designed incentives.
- Collaboration with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), critical for gathering evidence of non-compliance, is limited by funding and procedural obstacles.
- Public awareness of the DSA remains insufficient, underscoring the need for targeted outreach and DSA awareness campaigns.
To address these challenges, we recommend, among other things:
- Strengthening DSCs through targeted capacity-building initiatives, including training and practical resources.
- Investing in public awareness campaigns to inform citizens about their rights and how to engage with the DSA.
- Encouraging CSOs to form coalitions to advocate for the resources needed to support the enforcement of the DSA. These coalitions can work with donors to secure funding for digital rights projects and influence policy at both EU and national levels.
