Digital Services Act: Know Your Business Customer obligations must apply to all intermediary service providers to offer a meaningful tool for tackling illegal activities and products online.
In a responsible and mature economy, businesses should not be able to operate and have access to the modern necessary infrastructure Europe has to offer without accurately identifying themselves. This applies equally to the offline and to the online world, which is why in 2000 legislation introduced an obligation on businesses to identify themselves on their websites (see Article 5 of the e-Commerce Directive (ECD)). Unfortunately (and unsurprisingly) businesses that have the intention of making a profit out of illegal content do not comply with this obligation and do not suffer consequences.
This letter focuses on the “Know Your Business Customer” (KYBC) obligations of the proposal, the signatories of this letter may also be in touch with you independently on this and other important elements of the DSA.

Limiting KYBC obligations to the context of online marketplaces is a missed opportunity to address the broad range of illegal content and counterfeit, unsafe, non-compliant and substandard products online (…)

(… read the whole letter:  KYBC letter 18 Feb 2022-updated)

 

Nous, acteurs de toutes les industries culturelles et créatives en France, ne pouvons assister en silence à la remise en cause des acquis obtenus depuis 20 ans en matière de protection de nos droits sur Internet en pleine Présidence française de l’Union européenne.  Le Digital Services Act ambitionne de renforcer la responsabilité et le devoir de diligence de tous les services numériques ; c’est-à-dire de réguler les contenus en ligne et de protéger les citoyens contre les contenus illicites. Les intentions sont là. Et pour l’instant, les actes disent le contraire. 

DSA_L’Europe entre les mains des géants du Net_màj 61orgas_11.02.2022

The undersigned organisations representing the creative and business communities of the film and audiovisual sector in Europe regret that the European Parliament plenary vote on the Digital Services Act failed to achieve the stated goal of making internet intermediaries more accountable and creating a safer, better-functioning online environment for everyone. Although the European Parliament intended to broaden the KYBC provision to apply to all online intermediaries, the due diligence obligations remain too weak and narrow. Critical elements, such as the immediate removal of illegal content and an enforceable trusted flagger mechanism should be improved in the upcoming trilogue negotiations.

DSA_Film AV Sector_Trilogue Statement_FINAL_28 01 2022

With the upcoming plenary vote, the European Parliament can still turn the DSA into an opportunity for the EU to play a global role in making the internet a safer space for everyone

DSA statement Jan 2022 Plenary holds cards to building a safer internet_ 19.01.2020

We, the creative and cultural sectors in Europe, are very concerned that the General Approach on the Digital Services Act (DSA) adopted on 25th November by the Council fails to deliver on the DSA’s original objective of establishing more accountability for online platforms and creating a safer and more trustworthy online environment.

DSA_Council_Creative and cultural sectors_SERIOUS CONCERNS_over-general-approach_25 November 2021

The undersigned organisations represent key stakeholders in the film and audiovisual creation, production, exhibition and distribution value chain. We welcome the Commission’s proposal on the Digital Services Act (DSA)…. The European Commission’s proposal is a good start, but it leaves some critical gaps. Closing these gaps is the only way to ensure that the DSA achieves its stated policy goals, including providing a future proof and resilient legislative framework.

REV FINAL Film AV Sector Digital Services Act Joint Position – 26 05 2021