Accountability, auditability and the role of accountability actors in user protection under the DSA

A new accountability ecosystem under the DSA – and its role in user protection

Before the recent wave of legislation regulating the digital and tech sector at the EU level, enforcement was typically sector-specific and largely decentralised, with national authorities applying EU rules within their jurisdiction.

The DSA introduces a hybrid system, combining national enforcement with strong EU-level oversight. For the first time in platform regulation, the European Commission has direct supervisory and enforcement powers over Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) and Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs). The DSA also creates a whole new ecosystem of accountability actors that can strengthen democratic governance: Regulatory oversight such as the European Commission itself and national Digital Services Coordinators (DSCs) on the one side, trusted flaggers, vetted researchers, auditors, out-of-court dispute settlement bodies and platform users on the other side. Insights into how new accountability actors emerge and shape platform governance could directly inform ongoing enforcement and future EU reforms. That’s why our experts are conducting research focusing on the following questions:

• What does the establishment of new accountability actors across the EU mean for platform users, civil society, regulatory bodies, and companies?

• Does it strengthen users’ rights and accountability, or does it primarily reinforce regulatory oversight?

• To what extent has a community of practice already been established, and what needs to happen for one to emerge?