Legal Framework of the Digital Services Act for Online Platforms

Year 2024, Issue: 23, 115 - 149, 27.12.2024

Elif Beyza Akkanat Öztürk , Eylül Erva Akın

https://doi.org/10.26650/ihid.23.003

Abstract

This paper comprehensively evaluates the legal obligations prescribed for online platforms under the Digital Services Act (DSA). It examines the current impacts of DSA on online platforms and potential future implications. The DSA represents one of the European Union’s most comprehensive and innovative initiatives to regulate digital spaces. The objective of this regulatory framework is to clarify the responsibilities and obligations of online platforms and to provide secure and transparent digital services. In other words, the DSA aims to reduce legal uncertainties in the internet environment, protect user rights and control the impact of platforms on society. In this perspective, the regulation of online platforms and the existing legal framework for digital services within the European Union are analysed. The evolving role of online platforms with DSA and the responsibilities of this new role are discussed.

This study examines content moderation and the liability regime under the DSA, highlighting the balance between fundamental rights and freedoms and the importance of transparency obligation. Special attention is given to the protection of children online, assessing the adequacy of the DSA in safeguarding children’s rights, the scope of platform obligations and how the concept of harmful content is addressed. Finally, terms of use involving content moderation and protection of special categories of personal data and behavioural advertising practises are examined. The impact of DSA on the operation of online platforms and user rights is evaluated within the framework of transparency and accountability principles.

Keywords

Digital Services Act, Online platforms, Legal liability, Accountability, Content moderation

Çevrimiçi Platformlar Için Dijital Hizmetler Yasası’nın Hukuki Çerçevesi

Abstract

Bu çalışma, Dijital Hizmetler Yasası (Digital Services Act-DSA) uyarınca çevrimiçi platformlar için öngörülmüş hukuki yükümlülüklerin kapsamlı bir değerlendirmesine özgülenmiştir. Bu kapsamda DSA’nın çevrimiçi platformlara ve bu düzenlemenin gelecekteki potansiyel düzenleme olası etkileri incelenmiştir. DSA, Avrupa Birliği’nin dijital alanı düzenlemeye yönelik en kapsamlı ve yenilikçi girişimlerinden biridir. Bu düzenlemenin amacı çevrimiçi platformların sorumluluklarını ve yükümlülüklerini netleştirmek, dijital hizmetlerin daha güvenli ve şeffaf bir şekilde sunulmasıdır. Bir diğer ifadeyle DSA, internet ortamındaki yasal belirsizlikleri azaltmayı, kullanıcı haklarını korumayı ve platformların toplum üzerindeki etkisini denetlemeyi amaçlamaktadır.

İlk olarak DSA’nın yürürlük sürecinden itibaren Avrupa Birliği’nde çevrimiçi platformların düzenlenmesi ve dijital hizmetler üzerine mevcut hukuki çerçeve analiz edilmiştir. DSA ile çevrimiçi platformların “dönüşen rolü” ve bu yeni rolün getirdiği sorumluluklar değerlendirilmiştir. DSA hükümlerinde içeriğe yönelik müdahaleler ve sorumluluk rejimi incelenmiş; temel hak ve hürriyetler arasında denge arayışının nasıl sağlandığı ve şeffaflık hükümlerinin önemi vurgulanmıştır. Ayrıca çocukların çevrimiçi ortamda korunmasına dair hükümler ayrı bir başlık altında incelenmiş; çocuk haklarının korunmasında DSA’nın yeterliliği, platformların yükümlülüklerinin kapsamı ve zararlı içerik kavramının ele alınış şekilleri analiz edilmiştir.

Son olarak içeriğe yönelik müdahale içeren kullanım koşulları değerlendirilmiş ve özel nitelikli kişisel verilerin korunması ile davranışsal reklamcılık uygulamaları ele alınmıştır. Bu bağlamda DSA’nın çevrimiçi platformların işleyişine ve kullanıcı haklarına etkisi, şeffaflık ve sorumluluk ilkeleri çerçevesinde değerlendirilmiştir.

Keywords

Dijital Hizmetler Yasası, Çevrimiçi platformlar, Hukuki yükümlülük, Hesap verilebilirlik, İçerik denetimi

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