After Zalando, Amazon is now also resisting classification as a very large internet platform by the European Union. If other major retailers weren’t also subject to the associated heightened regulation, that would be unfair treatment, the online retailer said Tuesday. The American company doubts whether it is a “Very Large Online Platform” (VLOP) in the sense of the EU digital law DSA. Therefore, a judge must withdraw the classification.
The Digital Services Act (DSA) aims to force online businesses to take stronger action against hate speech and other illegal content on the Internet. To do this, VLOP needs to monitor the content of their pages more closely and establish independently audited risk management. Manipulative practices that encourage users to buy are prohibited, as is advertising directed at children. In addition, large platforms must give users more influence over which advertisements they see in the future.
Zalando states that as a fashion retailer, the content on the website does not pose a “systemic risk” for the dissemination of harmful or illegal third-party content. According to the German group, the EU also misinterpreted user numbers, leaving Zalando below the VLOP threshold of 45 million stays.
In addition to Zalando, the EU also rates iPhone provider Apple and internet group Google as VLOP. The companies have until August to implement the stricter regulations. Violations can lead to fines of up to six percent of annual turnover. According to the EU, lawsuits do not have a suspensive effect on the implementation of the tightened rules. In addition, it not only concerns hate speech, disinformation and cyberbullying, but also measures against the import of illegal or unsafe products.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
