Global: Amazon Given Three Weeks to Demonstrate Compliance with Digital Services Act

The European Commission has issued a directive to Amazon, requiring the tech giant to demonstrate its compliance with the Digital Services Act (DSA) by July 26. This mandate seeks detailed information on the measures Amazon has implemented to adhere to the law, with a particular focus on the transparency of its recommender systems, Reuters reported on Friday (July 5).

The Digital Services Act, adopted last year, compels large online platforms, including Amazon, to take stronger actions against illegal or harmful content. Amazon had previously challenged its designation as such a platform.

In response to the Commission’s request, an Amazon spokesperson stated, “We are reviewing this request and working closely with the European Commission. Amazon shares the goal of creating a safe, predictable, and trusted shopping environment. We invest significantly in protecting our store from bad actors and illegal content, building on this strong foundation for DSA compliance.”

Several major tech companies have been making adjustments to comply with the DSA. For instance, Microsoft-owned LinkedIn announced last month that it would phase out a controversial tool that allowed for the use of sensitive personal data for targeted advertising. This decision came after pressure from civil society organizations and regulatory scrutiny, which highlighted concerns about the potential misuse of data such as racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, and other personal details.

Similarly, TikTok suspended a rewards program on TikTok Lite in April following regulatory concerns in Europe. The program was criticized for its potential addictiveness for children, leading to threats of a temporary ban. EU Internal Markets Commissioner Thierry Breton stated, “Our children are not guinea pigs for social media,” prompting TikTok to voluntarily halt the rewards function while addressing the raised concerns.

As these examples illustrate, the Digital Services Act is prompting significant changes among major tech platforms to ensure a safer and more transparent digital environment.