SAWT BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL

| 29 March 2024, Friday |

EU Parliament agrees on proposal to take on U.S. tech giants

The European Parliament approved a proposal for new laws aimed at US digital behemoths on Thursday, setting the door for discussions with member governments and the European Commission.

The Digital Services Act, proposed by EU antitrust commissioner Margrethe Vestager, would require Amazon, Apple, Alphabet unit Google, and Facebook owner Meta to do more to combat unlawful content on their platforms or face fines of up to 6% of worldwide revenue.

Vestager’s plan, the world’s first of its sort, must still be worked out with EU governments and politicians next year before it can become law.

The European Parliament adopted the proposal with 530 votes in favor, 78 against and 80 abstentions.

“With a huge majority, the European Parliament adopted the Digital Services Act. A big win, with support from left to right,” Dutch lawmaker Paul Tang said on Twitter.

Christel Schaldemose, a Danish lawmaker, who is leading the Parliament’s negotiating team, said: “Online platforms have become increasingly important in our daily life, bringing new opportunities, but also new risks. It is our duty to make sure that what is illegal offline is illegal online.”

France, which holds the rotating EU presidency, aims for an agreement in the first half of 2022.

    Source:
  • Reuters