DSA — Digital Services Act: Platform Compliance
A one-day training on the DSA (Digital Services Act): online platforms' obligations for content moderation, the notice-and-action mechanism, transparency of ads and recommendations, and the specific requirements for very large platforms (VLOPs).
Obligations that scale with a platform’s reach
The DSA does not treat all digital services alike — it builds a layered model where obligations grow with a service’s size and impact. A small hosting portal has a different set of obligations than a platform with millions of users. The training starts by clearly classifying the organization’s service into the right category, because that determines the scope of requirements.
Content moderation that withstands scrutiny
The notice-and-action mechanism, statements of reasons for moderation decisions, and an internal complaint-handling system are the foundation of DSA compliance. The workshop walks through building this flow in practice — from a content report, through the decision, to communication with the user and the possibility of appeal — so the process is not only compliant but also operationally workable.
Ad and recommendation transparency as the new standard
The DSA introduces concrete restrictions on profiled advertising and transparency requirements for recommender systems. The final module of the training shows how to adapt a platform’s advertising and recommendation systems to these requirements, including the ban on ads based on sensitive data and targeted at minors.
Benefits
- Understand the scope of the DSA and the categories of intermediary services it covers
- Implement a notice-and-action mechanism for reporting and removing illegal content
- Ensure transparency of advertising, recommender systems, and content moderation
- Identify the additional obligations for very large platforms (VLOPs) and search engines (VLOSEs)
Who is this training for?
Prerequisites
- Basic familiarity with how an online platform or intermediary service operates
Training program
DSA scope and categories of intermediary services
- Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 — its purpose and regulatory architecture
- Categories: intermediary services, hosting, online platforms, very large platforms (VLOPs)
- A layered model of obligations that grow with a service's size and impact
- How the DSA relates to the e-Commerce Directive and other regulations
Content moderation and the notice-and-action mechanism
- The obligation to provide a mechanism for reporting illegal content
- The procedure for handling reports and removing content
- Providing a statement of reasons to users for moderation decisions
- An internal complaint-handling system and out-of-court dispute settlement
Transparency of ads and recommender systems
- Labelling ads and disclosing who funds them
- Ban on ads profiled using sensitive data and targeted at minors
- Transparency of how recommender systems work
- Transparency reporting and reporting obligations
Obligations for very large platforms (VLOPs/VLOSEs)
- The 45-million-active-users threshold in the EU as the VLOP criterion
- Systemic risk assessment and risk mitigation measures
- Independent compliance audits and researcher access to data
- European Commission oversight and sanctions for breaches
Delivery Methods
Online
- Convenience of participating from anywhere
- Interactive live sessions with trainer
- Materials available for 30 days
- No travel costs
On-site
- Direct contact with trainer and group
- Intensive hands-on workshops
- Networking with other participants
- Full focus on learning
Frequently asked questions
Which services are subject to the DSA?
The DSA covers intermediary services in a layered model: from simple mere-conduit and caching services, through hosting services, to online platforms and very large platforms (VLOPs). The greater a service's reach and impact, the more obligations apply. In the training we determine which category your service falls into and what set of obligations follows.
What is the notice-and-action mechanism?
It is a mandatory mechanism that lets users and entities report content they consider illegal, together with a procedure for the platform to review it and — in justified cases — remove or block it. The platform must also provide a statement of reasons to the user whose content is affected. In the workshop we build this reporting and decision flow.
What does the VLOP threshold mean, and does it apply to us?
Very large online platforms (VLOPs) and search engines (VLOSEs) are those reaching at least 45 million monthly active recipients in the EU — a threshold corresponding to roughly 10% of the Union's population. They are subject to the most extensive obligations, including systemic risk assessment and independent audits. In the training we explain how to count reach and which obligations distinguish VLOPs from ordinary platforms.
What advertising restrictions apply to platforms under the DSA?
The DSA prohibits advertising based on profiling using sensitive data (such as opinions, health, or orientation) and profiled advertising targeted at minors. It also requires clearly labelling ads and disclosing who funds them. In the workshop we cover how to adapt advertising systems to these requirements.
What sanctions apply for a DSA breach?
Breaching DSA obligations can result in penalties of up to 6% of a company's annual worldwide turnover, and for VLOPs, oversight is exercised directly by the European Commission. Beyond financial penalties, a platform may be required to implement remedial measures. In the training we cover how to build a compliance programme that reduces this risk.
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Up to 80% funding for SMEs from EU funds
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