EU steps up efforts to prevent fake news and hate-inciting content online

EC President Ursula von der Leyen speaks at a press conference in Brussels, Belgium – Photo: AFP/VNA

The EC said the new law, called the Digital Services Act (DSA), “is aimed at protecting cyberspace against the spread of unauthorized content and ensuring the protection of users’ basic rights”.

The agreement was reached after EC and EP negotiators agreed on an interim text for new regulations aimed at making the Internet a safer space for European citizens. The negotiations began on April 22 and lasted until the early morning of April 23.

According to EC President Ursula von der Leyen, the DSA “ensures the principle that what is illegal outside of cyberspace will also be illegal in cyberspace”, and will “advance the basic rules for all online services in the European Union (EU)”.

The above agreement will need to be approved by the EC and EP before it can officially take effect.