The European Union will apply provisions of the Digital Services Act (DSA) to major U.S. technology companies. The measure aims to ensure compliance with rules designed to protect minors from online harms, according to EU Commissioner for Digital Affairs Henna Virkkunen.
Speaking to reporters in Denmark, Virkkunen confirmed that formal Requests for Information (RFIs) have been sent to Google (including YouTube), Apple, and Snapchat. These requests seek details on how each platform protects children from harmful content, dangerous online environments, and the exploitation of personal data.
“These measures are about accountability,” Virkkunen said. “When minors use online services, a very high level of privacy, security and safety must be ensured. That’s why we have the Digital Services Act in place.”
The RFIs are part of a broader European strategy to enforce Article 28 of the DSA, which requires online platforms to implement proportionate safeguards for minors, prohibits targeted advertising to those under 18, and obliges companies to design digital services with safety and privacy as default settings.
The commission’s investigation coincides with ongoing meetings of EU digital ministers in Copenhagen, where the Jutland Declaration – an EU-wide mandate to strengthen online child protection and harmonize standards among member states – is expected to be signed.
Under the DSA, platforms accessible to minors must take “appropriate and proportionate” measures to limit exposure to adult or harmful content. This includes implementing age verification and assurance mechanisms to prevent children from accessing pornography, gambling, or violent material.
Companies must also maintain algorithmic filters and recommendation systems that prevent minors from being exposed to political or extremist content, or material promoting self-harm, eating disorders, gambling, or substance abuse. Advertisers and publishers are likewise required to ensure that adult-oriented products and campaigns (targeted at 21+ audiences) are not shown to minors.
These rules are part of the EU’s wider initiative to create a “child-safe by design” digital environment, aligning online safety standards with existing consumer protection and broadcasting regulations.
Regardless of the DSA, many European countries are developing their own digital protection laws. The UK’s Online Safety Act has already set a national precedent for regulating social media and platform accountability.
France, Germany, and Denmark are advancing their own legislation: France requires parental consent for users under 15, Germany continues to rely on its NetzDG model for combating online hate speech, and Denmark is proposing restrictions on youth access to social media.
Each of these approaches differs in scope, enforcement, and definitions of “online harm,” illustrating how Europe’s regulatory environment is fragmenting even as the EU seeks unified standards through the DSA.
The DSA has become a cornerstone of Europe’s digital regulation, but American tech giants have repeatedly voiced concerns about its implementation. They argue that it imposes excessive compliance costs in a fragmented EU market and could stifle innovation among major companies.
Executives at Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Snap have claimed that certain provisions of the DSA amount to regulatory overreach, restrict free expression, and compel platforms to adopt moderation policies incompatible with the U.S. First Amendment. They also point to the growing costs of compliance and the DSA’s expanding scope, particularly as it interacts with national laws in EU member states.
Tensions increased when the Trump administration identified the DSA as a point of contention in trade negotiations with the EU, linking its enforcement to tariffs on European exports and insisting that U.S. tech firms be exempted from its rules.
In response, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advised American companies not to apply DSA-style moderation practices if doing so would conflict with domestic free speech protections.
Despite ongoing disputes, European leaders led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen maintain that the DSA remains the best tool for defending the digital and personal rights of EU citizens.
Speaking on the EU’s Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles, von der Leyen said: “The rights put forward in our declaration are guaranteed for everybody in the EU, online as they are offline. And the digital principles enshrined in the declaration will guide us in our work on all new initiatives.”
Brussels acknowledges differences in national implementation of the act but emphasizes that enforcement is improving as the European Commission’s Digital Services teams expand their oversight capacity.
For now, the EU has not threatened fines against American companies. However, the commission has warned that formal investigations could follow if the responses to its information requests are incomplete or fail to demonstrate credible compliance with DSA child protection standards.
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