Press conference by Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK), Rapporteur and Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SV), Dita CHARANZOVÁ (Renew Europe, CZ), Alexandra GEESE (Greens/EFA, DE) and Adam BIELAN (ECR, PL), shadow rapporteurs, about the outcome of the vote in committee about Digital Services Act (DSA).

Strasbourg

press conference

CHARANZOVÁ, Dita (Renew, CZ)

SCHALDEMOSE, Christel (S&D, DK)

BIELAN, Adam (ECR, PL)

KOKALARI, Arba (EPP, SE)

GEESE, Alexandra (Greens/EFA, DE)

digital services act (T)

Press conference on the Digital Services Act (DSA) by Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK), Rapporteur and Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SV), Dita CHARANZOVÁ (Renew Europe, CZ), Alexandra GEESE (Greens/EFA, DE) and Adam BIELAN (ECR, PL), shadow rapporteurs

SOUNDBITE (English), Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&amp;D, DK), Rapporteur, Thank you very much. And first and foremost, a big thanks to the shadow rapporteurs. We have had a long and sometimes also complicated process, but I'm really, really happy that we ended up with a result that we did this morning with a big and broad support from. That's also why I decided to invite the shadow rapporteurs to this press conference, even though I learnt that that's not what we normally do in the Parliament, but I think it shows that this is an important file and we need to find balances and we need to find solutions together. And I think that we did that.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK), Rapporteur, So first and foremost, and I think that the result of the IMCO vote today has shown that we are trying to send two main signals that we would like to protect users and consumers, but at the same time, also making sure that we have a digital economy that can keep on growing in a transparent and trustworthy democratic framework. And I think that we have achieved that.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK), Rapporteur, We have for years fought to get rid of pollution in our offline world, and I think that it is important to try to get rid of the pollution of the digital environment. And I think that we do that by making sure that we are trying to reduce spread of illegal products and services. We are trying to narrow down the use of harmful algorithms, and I also hope that we are taking the first step in order to avoid this very extensive harvesting of personal data.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK), Rapporteur, So in my point of view with the text, I think that we have achieved some very good things. First and foremost, we have safeguarded the general principle of the e-commerce directive, including the origin of a country of origin principle, which is one of the things I think that we will have to discuss with the council. At the same time, we have a strengthened no general monitoring obligation. If platforms are making a voluntary initiative measures, they have to comply with additional safeguards to ensure that they are accurate and non-discriminatory and proportionate and transparent, which I find very important.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK), Rapporteur, We are also introducing some provisions to stop misuse of our data. This means that we, for instance, have introduced her no more targeting of advertisement to minors, and we're trying to make it more easy for people to take back their consent. And we also have to. We are also applying the the very large online platforms to offer an alternative recommended system, which is not based on profiling.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK), Rapporteur, We are also trying to make sure that we have no dark patterns. I find that very important. And in general, greater transparency and fairness in terms and condition that will, for instance, mean that you are not any longer if our proposal will be the law and not any longer allowed to give more visual prominence of any content options.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK), Rapporteur, And I mean, you might know that today, when you are saying giving consent, the "yes" is green and the other one is is is not so visible, and then we're pushed with a dark pattern into giving consent to this we are trying to avoid now. And also in many news websites to have to read several pages of terms and conditions. We are now also trying to establish that they have to give a summary of these terms and conditions so that they are easily understood. And then we are also on this, in my point of view, is extremely important. We are also opening up the black box of algorithms.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK), Rapporteur, Not completely, but very much in line with the French Hogan's revelations. We're suggesting that the very large online platforms will need to assess the dissemination of illegal content, but also content that might be in breach of their own terms and conditions and other content, but can have a negative impact, for instance, disinformation. And I think that this is very important. And here I think that we can do things that will help also make the online environment more safe also for users.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK), Rapporteur, And I think this is very, very important. I will not go into many details, but we are also introducing an obligation for providers of intermediary services to designate a single point of contact for users and consumers. I think this is also very important. Many people think that it is very difficult to get into contact with the platforms and now we're helping them in order to make sure that that's that's that it would be possible. And then we are in general enhancing the consumer protection.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK), Rapporteur, For instance, in the scope of the regulation, we are adding consumer protection as one of the aim of this regulation. That was not the case from the commission side. We will also suggest new obligations to online marketplaces. They have to take adequate measures to identify illegal products and services, for instance, by making a random checks. And they will also have to remove legal products or services as fast as possible, and they will have to inform the consumers in case they have bought something that was illegal but I will not go into all the details here as well.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK), Rapporteur, We have more, but I just want to say that we are in fact trying to enhance the consumer protection rather much, and I'm really happy that the colleagues supported this. And finally, on on the consumers, I would like to say that we also introduces a right for consumers and business users to seek compensation in case of an infringement infringement of the DSA by any platform. And I think this is very important as well.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK), Rapporteur, So if the platforms are not complying with their obligations in this law and someone is having that that causes harm to someone, either business user or a consumer, they have a chance to seek compensation. And I think this might help the platforms to become better in trying to comply with our regulation here.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK), Rapporteur, So, in general, I think that what we're doing is we're trying to ensure a safer and a fairer and a more trustworthy online environment. And at the same time, also making sure that we still have a good level playing field and we can still make sure that we can foster innovation. I think we have tried to strike this balance and and with this, I would like to also invite colleagues to say something, but I would once again say that I'm really happy that we have achieved this broad support for this.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK), Rapporteur, I think that we are taking a giant step in the right direction to get more control back from the platforms, democratic control, and that we're all making sure that we have a better, more safe environment online that is clearly needed. But we also deliver on these things here with the vote in IMCO. And of course, we have to wait for the plenary vote as well.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK), Rapporteur, And that might come a couple of offer amendments, as we saw on the day today. But that's how we work in the parliament. But I'm I'm proud and I'm happy to see this result, and I do think that we have improved the commission's proposal in order to make it safer. So with this, I would like to also invite my shadow is to to to come in and starting, of course, with the EPP.

SOUNDBITE (English), Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE), Rapporteur, Yes, thank you very much. I want, first of all, a big thank you to Christel SCHALDEMOSE, our rapporteur, for good cooperation and the way we have managed to set a broad majority and compromise on the dossier. And I also want to thank you, the other shadow rapporteurs, on a good working environment.

SOUNDBITE (English), Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE), Rapporteur, And I think what we have accomplished is that we are sending a common, strong and clear message from the European Parliament that we want a digital single market that are that have clear rules both on providing strong consumer protection, but also a Europe should be a business friendly place and environment.

SOUNDBITE (English), Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE), Rapporteur, We have come together to put an end to the digital Wild West where the big platforms are setting the rules right now, where we have too much of criminal content that are going viral. For me as an EPP negotiator, I'm I'm very happy that we managed to have a compromise where we do not overburden the small companies. And we also made some exceptions for some medium sized companies because the DSA objective is basically to find a harmonisation of the digital single market, where the European tech companies can compete globally, where they are able to easily follow one set of rules instead of 27 sets of rules.

SOUNDBITE (English), Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE), Rapporteur, And I'm also pleased that we have no legal clarity for the platforms and also a safer environment for consumers and users online, where illegal content will be put down more quickly and that we have we will have a more diverse and innovative landscape in India on the internet. So thank you all colleagues for these compromises and cooperation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dita CHARANZOVÁ (Renew, CZ), Rapporteur, Thank you very much. And I also would like to thank Christel Madam Rapporteur for her work on this file. It's not an easy file and it's something that created a lot of expectations amongst the public, and I'm really proud that we stay united here today because we really want to deliver a delivery for citizens, for all the users, but also for the small and medium sized players.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dita CHARANZOVÁ (Renew, CZ), Rapporteur, Christel said it's the last legislation is 20 years old. A lot has happened since then and our or our principle goal was to address the best and preserve the good on internet. I'm very happy that we will have a new EU system that will quickly remove the legal content that is now polluting the online world, and we have done so in a way that we both also respect US users. So gone will be the day of your birthday videos just disappearing from the platforms. You will have a right to complain and get it back. If it's not illegal.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dita CHARANZOVÁ (Renew, CZ), Rapporteur, I think it's important to also say one element that I would like to highlight, which is that we put in a cookie pop up on this watch. Thanks to the support to given to the Renew amendment, the browser "don't track" button will actually work and you, the providers, will not force you to click "Yes", when you want to really say no.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dita CHARANZOVÁ (Renew, CZ), Rapporteur, Data sharing is not a bad thing. Targeted ads are not bad thing, but users must have a free and fair choice in the matter, and this is what this document or disposition is about. And in addition, I'm very proud that we have additional elements when it comes to minors. We need to do more for the minors in the online world. And the other issue is also to do more for the people with disabilities because we live in the digital era. We want people to live in digital era, but this digital era, this world must be accessible to all citizens. Thank you very much, Christel.

SOUNDBITE (English), Alexandra GEESE (Greens/EFA, DE), Rapporteur, First of all, I would like to thank the rapporteur because I think her job has been extremely hard, and in the end she brought us all together, and I think that's already an achievement we can celebrate because what we're trying to do here is to establish the new fundamental law of the internet, and that is obviously a huge task. And so I think we are very proud to stand, you know, in spite of all our differences we have thought about.

SOUNDBITE (English), Alexandra GEESE (Greens/EFA, DE), Rapporteur, But now we stand united and I think that's great because what are we doing as the first continent? We are not only establishing a few rules to rein in Big Tech, but we are trying to look under the hood to look into what the mechanisms are, what Frances Hogan as a Facebook whistleblower, said in this house engagement based ranking. But in order to legislate about that, we need more evidence and this is the evidence we can now get with the DSA.

SOUNDBITE (English), Alexandra GEESE (Greens/EFA, DE), Rapporteur, If you look at Article 26, what we added to the commission text is that we now can look into the intended operation of the service and not only inauthentic use, what Facebook is always, trying us to do to tell it to do. We can look into what the platforms really do in order to disseminate problematic content. And I think that is a huge achievement,together with Articles 28 on independent audiences.

SOUNDBITE (English), Alexandra GEESE (Greens/EFA, DE), Rapporteur, And so independent entities who can look at what these companies are doing and Article 31 is also very important. The access to data for the Commission for the Digital Services Co-ordinators, but also for academics, for researchers and very important for NGOs who have done a great job in the past years to inform us on what's happening in the platforms. And I think they should have a very prominent role here.

SOUNDBITE (English), Alexandra GEESE (Greens/EFA, DE), Rapporteur, So I think the DSA is a start. I'm not happy with all aspects of the results, but it's a start. It's a small snowball that could turn into the avalanche that helps us to make the internet more democratic and a freer place. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (English), Adam BIELAN (ECR, PL), Rapporteur, Thank you so much. First of all, I would like to thank the rapporteur, Ms. SCHALDEMOSE, for invitation to this press conference and for the hard work done on this file during the last few months, especially considering the importance of this legislation. It is probably one of the most important file in this parliamentary term and considering all the emotions of different political interests you had to deal with your excellent work.

SOUNDBITE (English), Adam BIELAN (ECR, PL), Rapporteur, Secondly, I would like to express my support for the horizontal character of the text. I believe it was important to limit the amount of entirely new provisions, especially when it could have blurred the legislation's objectives and tackle sectoral issues. My group, the European Conservatives and Reformists, mainly focus on strengthening the freedom of speech safeguards, balancing press ability of traders, especially for the SMEs, increasing transparency of various entities in the scope, including trusted bloggers and removing the incentives that could cause us to remove all of the content by platforms that could consequently introduce soft internet censorship.

SOUNDBITE (English), Adam BIELAN (ECR, PL), Rapporteur, Our group, was also equally focussed on preserving a robust and open digital economy in Europe that proved its importance to citizens and businesses during the COVID pandemic. These would not be possible without maintaining the key elements of the e-commerce directive, like the limited liability regime.

SOUNDBITE (English), Adam BIELAN (ECR, PL), Rapporteur, Thirdly, I believe the final text requires further improvements during the upcoming plenary and then trialogues with the council, especially regarding the proportionality of some of the obligations and additional burdens put on the businesses. Today's vote closed the first chapter of the lengthy process ahead of us. I hope that together with other colleagues, we will continue the dialogue and achieve a better digital environment for European citizens. Thank you.

Q&A focusing on the procedure that allowed some companies to be exempented from the limitations that the DSA is proposing to inforce. Furthermore, it is also discussed the Commission's mandate relating to the DSA regulation.

Q&A expanding on the previous question, and inquiring on the official positions on exemptions and on the proposed-ban on digital advertising hold by Christel SCHALDEMOSE, in light of the upcoming plenary vote.

Q&A focusing on how the DSA will work in order to prevent/limit unrequested data-mining and data-tracking on users. Furthermore, it is also discussed what will the most difficult item that will be dabated during the trilogue with member states.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK), Rapporteur, But just again, a big, big thanks to my shadows and also our sitting in Sweden. And I think that it was difficult and it has been difficult because it's such an important file and and I'm really, really happy that by the end of the day... .

 And I'm looking very much forward to the plenary vote, and afterwards also to negotiate with the council with this very strong team together, I'm sure that we will be able to deliver good. Thank you very much.