Very Large Online PlatformsAn online platform refers to a digital service that enables interactions between two or more sets of users who are distinct but interdependent and use the service to communicate via the internet. The phrase "online platform" is a broad term used to refer to various internet services such as marketplaces, search engines, social media, etc. In the DSA, online platforms... More (VLOPs) and Very Large Search Engines (VLOSEs) have already submitted the first three versions of their Transparency Reports (TR), as tracked in our DSA Database.
Now, on 17 April 2025, the deadline will come for ALL the other online platforms to submit their first-ever DSA TR. Watch out: this first deadline is an exception, and timelines will shift over these first years. No need to worry: we’ve got you covered with all the details.
Regardless of service categorization, the TR regulatory obligation implies several challenges for any online service, especially in collecting the right data, metrics, and inputs. Importantly, from July 2025, precision will be even more critical as platforms will be required to follow the final templates published in November 2024 by the EU Commission.
To address these challenges and help platforms unravel this Transparency obligation, we co-organized a webinar with the Tech Coalition about Transparency Reporting for Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA) under the DSA.
The speakers included:
- Agne Kaarlep, Managing Director of Policy and Advisory at Tremau
- Despina Papageorge, Associate Director at Cloudflare
- Antonella Zarra, Case Handler in the Digital Services Act enforcement team at the European Commission
Plus: if you’re interested in all the details and nuances of Transparency Reporting, go check out the Guide we co-authored with The Tech Coalition (and that we briefly presented in the webinar too!)
Key Takeaways
- Automate your reporting to make life easier. Providing a correct TR is not an easy task. Platforms should invest in the right tools to compile compliant Reports and improve internal governance. This way, they can keep track of every content moderationReviewing user-generated content to ensure that it complies with a platform’s T&C as well as with legal guidelines. See also: Content Moderator More decision, streamline the internal data collection, and align their reports with the categories required by the new templates (July 2025 is close!).
- Templates are (just) a starting point. While all platforms will have to fill in the data categories required in the mandatory templates, the EU Commission grants them some flexibility to add metrics related to the specific needs and operational models of different services. Action items? Know your platform, align your policies with the DSA, and use your knowledge to provide the best, comprehensive TR.
- Get your data right – and keep it that way. Platforms should implement continuous data validation, quality controls, and regular audits to ensure accurate reporting and catch discrepancies before deadlines arrive.
- Stay flexible and collaborate with the industry. Build flexible internal systems to quickly adapt to an ever-evolving regulatory scenario (not only in the EU!), and engage in industry collaborations like the Tech Coalition to share best practices and enhance your transparency processes.
