TLDR:
- None of the major online platforms comply with the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA). (Only Wikipedia met all requirements).
- The main failures include transparency, algorithm accountability, and child safety. Platforms like Amazon, TikTok, and Meta all failed these.
- The DSA provides a new way of testing accountability. It demands audits of content moderation, algorithmic risks, and user safety measures.
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Introduction
The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) aims to hold Big Tech accountable for their impact on society. This year, nineteen major platforms underwent their first independent audits, but the results are not great...and that's an understatement. Not a single company, except Wikipedia, achieved full compliance. This highlights ongoing issues with transparency, user protection, and responsible algorithm design.
Explanation
The DSA is designed to enforce responsibility among platforms with over 45 million EU users. It mandates external audits to assess compliance on safety, privacy, and algorithmic risks. Companies like Google, Meta, Amazon, and TikTok have faced criticism over their opaque practices, including the workings of recommendation algorithms and moderation inefficiencies.
For example, auditors noted TikTok’s emergency response team lacked adequate training, while Amazon failed to explain how product recommendations work. Meanwhile, platforms like X were flagged for insufficient age verification processes. Although the act was implemented in 2023, there is a lot of confusion over how to interpret some of its rules.
Impact and implications
This total non-compliance shows how much work remains to make Big Tech accountable. Transparency in algorithmic operations isn’t just a technical challeng, it’s super critical for informed public oversight. Platforms influence billions of daily interactions, and their design choices shape the behaviour of a large part of the society.
For privacy advocates, the audits validate their concerns. The lack of accountability in areas like child safety and age verification is quite alarming. Non-compliance doesn’t directly trigger penalties, but the European Commission can use these results to enforce actions, that potentially lead to fines of up to 6% of global revenue.
Final thoughts
This audit again reveals a gap between Big Tech promises and reality. While the DSA sets a high bar, it's a necessary step for ttransparency and user safety. Only by applying pressure can we hope for change for the better.
At Simple Analytics, we've been championing this since the start. It's is actually the reason why we built privacy-friendly alternative to Google Analytics. It’s built to respect user data while providing websites owners the insights the need. No hidden algorithms, no complexity, no bullshit. If this resonates with you, feel free to check it out.