EU refers Czech Republic, Spain, Cyprus, Poland, Portugal to court for Digital Services Act violations

The European Commission has initiated legal action against five member states—Czech Republic, Spain, Cyprus, Poland, and Portugal—for failing to properly implement the Digital Services Act (DSA), a law aimed at holding online platforms accountable for illegal and harmful content. These countries have not designated or empowered the required national Digital Services Coordinators nor established appropriate penalty frameworks for DSA violations. The lack of these measures undermines the DSA’s objective of creating a safer digital environment and ensuring users can seek redress against online platforms. Bulgaria has also been issued a warning and given two months to address its own shortcomings before potentially facing referral to the Court of Justice of the European Union. The Commission’s actions highlight concerns about the uneven commitment among EU countries to enforce digital safety standards. The DSA is considered a cornerstone policy for responsible online platform management within the EU.