{"id":3061,"date":"2021-09-01T15:21:03","date_gmt":"2021-09-01T15:21:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sectorplandls.nl\/wordpress\/?page_id=3061"},"modified":"2021-09-01T16:10:38","modified_gmt":"2021-09-01T16:10:38","slug":"is-article-12-dsa-a-paper-tiger","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.sectorplandls.nl\/wordpress\/blog\/is-article-12-dsa-a-paper-tiger\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Terms and Conditions to apply Fundamental Rights to Content Moderation Is Article 12 DSA a Paper Tiger?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"3061\" class=\"elementor elementor-3061\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-41aa8b79 elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"41aa8b79\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-272a26ec\" data-id=\"272a26ec\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c3e77c2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"1c3e77c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span  >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1 September 2021\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-346e6a8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"346e6a8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c7e7964 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3c7e7964\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><div style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-style: normal;text-align: left\"><b>Using Terms and Conditions to apply Fundamental Rights to Content Moderation<\/b><\/span><span style=\"font-style: normal;font-weight: 400;text-align: left\"> <\/span><br><span style=\"font-style: normal;font-weight: 400;text-align: left\"><br><\/span><span style=\"font-style: normal;text-align: left\">Is Article 12 DSA a Paper Tiger? <\/span><\/div><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d64bb0a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1d64bb0a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"442\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sectorplandls.nl\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/pjimage-1024x442.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3063\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sectorplandls.nl\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/pjimage-1024x442.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sectorplandls.nl\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/pjimage-300x130.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sectorplandls.nl\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/pjimage-768x332.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sectorplandls.nl\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/pjimage-1536x664.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sectorplandls.nl\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/pjimage-2048x885.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.sectorplandls.nl\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/pjimage-600x259.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.sectorplandls.nl\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/pjimage-1502x649.jpg 1502w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\"><\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4cf0ace7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-testimonial\" data-id=\"4cf0ace7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-testimonial-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uva.nl\/en\/profile\/a\/p\/n.appelman\/n.m.i.d.appelman.html\" target=\"_blank\">Naomi Appelman<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-testimonial-job\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uva.nl\/en\/profile\/a\/p\/n.appelman\/n.m.i.d.appelman.html\" target=\"_blank\">Digital Legal Lab &amp; University of Amsterdam<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a0996a1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-testimonial\" data-id=\"2a0996a1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-testimonial-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uva.nl\/en\/profile\/q\/u\/j.p.quintais\/j.p.quintais.html\" target=\"_blank\">Jo\u00e3o Pedro Quintais<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-testimonial-job\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uva.nl\/en\/profile\/q\/u\/j.p.quintais\/j.p.quintais.html\" target=\"_blank\">University of Amsterdam<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3fcbb8bc elementor-widget elementor-widget-testimonial\" data-id=\"3fcbb8bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-testimonial-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uva.nl\/profiel\/f\/a\/r.f.fahy\/r.f.fahy.html\" target=\"_blank\">Ronan Fahy<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-testimonial-job\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uva.nl\/profiel\/f\/a\/r.f.fahy\/r.f.fahy.html\" target=\"_blank\">Digital Legal Lab &amp; University of Amsterdam<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-598e152 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"598e152\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0933923\" data-id=\"0933923\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-98c9227 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"98c9227\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Will Article 12 of the Digital Services Act be a milestone for free speech online, or is it just a paper tiger? In this piece for <a href=\"https:\/\/verfassungsblog.de\/power-dsa-dma-06\/\"><u><b>Verfassungsblog.de<\/b><\/u><\/a>, Naomi Appelman, Jo\u00e3o Pedro Quintais and Ronan Fahy give their perspective on how Art. 12 DSA could help reign in Big Tech&#8217;s power over our online public sphere and better protect fundamental rights.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6f904300 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6f904300\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3871bc26\" data-id=\"3871bc26\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c8718ce elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3c8718ce\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>As the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has emphasised, online platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, provide an \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/hudoc.echr.coe.int\/eng?i=001-159188\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\"><strong>unprecedented<\/strong><\/a>\u201d means for exercising freedom of expression online. International human rights bodies have recognised the \u201c<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/undocs.org\/A\/HRC\/41\/41\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">enormous power<\/a><\/strong>\u201d platforms wield over participation in the online \u201c<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/undocs.org\/A\/HRC\/41\/41\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">democratic space<\/a><\/strong>\u201d. However, it is increasingly clear that the systems operated by platforms, where (<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/uk-facebook-content\/facebook-offers-up-first-ever-estimate-of-hate-speech-prevalence-on-its-platform-idINKBN27Z2QY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">automated<\/a><\/strong>) content moderation decisions are taken based on a platform\u2019s terms of service, are \u201c<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eff.org\/deeplinks\/2019\/04\/content-moderation-broken-let-us-count-ways\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">fundamentally broken<\/a><\/strong>\u201d.<\/p><p>Content moderation systems have been said to \u201c<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/download\/Documents\/POL3014042019ENGLISH.PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">undermine freedom of expression<\/a><\/strong>\u201d, especially where important public interest speech ends up being suppressed, such as speech by minority and\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/facebooks-hate-speech-policies-censor-marginalized-users\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">marginalised groups<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/eu.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/2019\/04\/24\/facebook-while-black-zucked-users-say-they-get-blocked-racism-discussion\/2859593002\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">black activist groups<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2020\/9\/24\/21454554\/facebook-acitivists-suspended-accounts-coastal-gaslink-pipeline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">environmental activist groups<\/a><\/strong>, and\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/2021\/jan\/29\/facebook-banned-me-because-i-am-leftwing-i-am-not-the-only-one\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">other activists<\/a><\/strong>. Indeed, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression has\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/documents-dds-ny.un.org\/doc\/UNDOC\/GEN\/G18\/096\/72\/PDF\/G1809672.pdf?OpenElement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">criticised<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0these content moderation systems for their overly vague rules of operation, inconsistent enforcement, and an overdependence on automation, which can lead to over-blocking and pre-publication censorship. This criticism is combined with, and amplified by, the notion that Big Tech exercises too much power over our online public sphere. Therefore, in order to better protect free expression online, the UN Special Rapporteur, and free speech\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.article19.org\/resources\/side-stepping-rights-regulating-speech-by-contract\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">organisations<\/a><\/strong>, have argued that platforms \u201c<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/documents-dds-ny.un.org\/doc\/UNDOC\/GEN\/G18\/096\/72\/PDF\/G1809672.pdf?OpenElement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">should incorporate directly<\/a><\/strong>\u201d principles of fundamental rights law into their terms and conditions (T&amp;Cs).<\/p><p>In EU law, platforms presently have no obligation to incorporate fundamental rights into their T&amp;Cs. An important provision in the EU\u2019s proposed\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/legal-content\/EN\/TXT\/HTML\/?uri=CELEX:52020PC0825&amp;from=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Digital Services Act<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(DSA), may change this.\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/legal-content\/EN\/TXT\/HTML\/?uri=CELEX:52020PC0825&amp;from=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Art. 12 DSA<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0lays down new rules on how platforms can enforce their T&amp;Cs, including that platforms must have \u201cdue regard\u201d to the \u201cfundamental rights\u201d of users under the\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/legal-content\/EN\/TXT\/HTML\/?uri=CELEX:12012P\/TXT&amp;from=EN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">EU Charter of Fundamental Rights<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(Charter). The\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/procedure\/EN\/2020_361\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">EU Council and Parliament<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0are considering the proposal in parallel, and several far reaching\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu\/oeil\/popups\/ficheprocedure.do?lang=en&amp;reference=2020\/0361(OLP)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">amendments<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>have been advanced in Parliament. Civil society is tracking these developments\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dsa-observatory.eu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">closely<\/a><\/strong>, and there has been\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.article19.org\/resources\/does-the-digital-services-act-protect-freedom-of-expression\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">severe criticism<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0on the\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/edri.org\/our-work\/all-hands-on-deck-what-the-european-parliament-should-do-about-the-dsa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">meagre protection<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.eff.org\/pages\/digital-services-act-proposal-recommendations-eu-parliament-and-council\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\"><strong>fundamental rights<\/strong> <strong>in<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0the DSA. In this post, we examine Art. 12 DSA, including some of the proposed amendments. We ask whether this provision requires online platforms to apply EU fundamental rights law and to what extent it may curb the power of Big Tech over online speech. We conclude that, as it stands and until courts intervene, the provision is too vague and ambiguous to effectively support the application of fundamental rights. But there is room for improvement during the legislative process, and to avoid that Art. 12 DSA becomes a paper tiger.<\/p><h4 class=\"fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" data-fontsize=\"22\" data-lineheight=\"26.4px\">The systematic context and scope of Article 12 DSA<\/h4><p>The DSA proposal is divided into five chapters. Chapter II sets out the regime for the liability of intermediary services providers, updating and adding to the rules set out in Arts. 12 and 15\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/legal-content\/EN\/TXT\/HTML\/?uri=CELEX:32000L0031&amp;from=EN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">e-Commerce Directive<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(see\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/RegData\/etudes\/IDAN\/2020\/649404\/EPRS_IDA(2020)649404_EN.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">here<\/a><\/strong>).<\/p><p>Chapter III deals with due diligence obligations that are\u00a0<em>independent<\/em>\u00a0of the liability regime assessment of the previous chapter. These new rules, a novelty in relation to the e-Commerce Directive, distinguish between specific categories of providers. They set out asymmetric obligations that apply in a tiered way to all providers of intermediary services (Arts. 10 to 13 DSA), hosting providers (Arts. 14-15 DSA), online platforms (Arts. 16-24 DSA) and very large online platforms or \u201cVLOPs\u201d (Arts. 25-33 DSA). Providers of intermediary services are subject to the fewest obligations and VLOPs \u2013 covering Big Tech platforms \u2013 are subject to the most obligations. All providers are subject to Art. 12 DSA.<\/p><p>Art. 12 DSA is titled \u201c<em>Terms and conditions<\/em>\u201d, a term that is defined in Art. 2(q) DSA as \u201call terms and conditions or specifications, irrespective of their name or form, which govern the contractual relationship between the provider of intermediary services and the recipients of the services.\u201d The provision aims to increase the transparency of these T&amp;Cs and bring their enforcement in direct relation to fundamental rights.<\/p><p>Crucially, unlike Chapter II, Art. 12 DSA applies not only to illegal content but also to harmful content, as defined in the T&amp;Cs of an intermediary. As such, since it applies to all providers, Art. 12 DSA extends the obligations of Chapter III beyond illegal content. Interestingly, the European Parliament\u2019s Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI), has proposed to limit the application of fundamental rights in Art. 12 DSA\u00a0<em>only\u00a0<\/em>to harmful content (see\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/doceo\/document\/JURI-PA-694960_EN.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">amendments 39 and 40<\/a><\/strong>). Either way, the result is that the DSA will expand the scope of content moderation decisions subject to regulation as compared to e-Commerce Directive. Still, as we show, it remains unclear how these T&amp;Cs relate to fundamental rights.<\/p><p>Art 12\u2019s DSA aims of transparency and enforcement are dealt with in two distinct paragraphs. Whereas paragraph (1) includes information obligations, paragraph (2) deals with application and enforcement and, arguably, brings providers\u2019 T&amp;Cs within the scope of EU fundamental rights.<\/p><h4 class=\"fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" data-fontsize=\"22\" data-lineheight=\"26.4px\">Article 12(1) DSA: Information Obligation<\/h4><p><a href=\"https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/legal-content\/en\/TXT\/?uri=COM:2020:825:FIN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\"><strong>Art. 12(1) DSA<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0sets out an information obligation for providers of intermediary services regarding certain content moderation practices outlined in their T&amp;Cs. It aims to ensure that the T&amp;Cs are transparent and clear as to how, when and on what basis user-generated content can be restricted. The objective of the obligation appears to be acts of content moderation by providers that impose \u201cany restriction\u201d on users. But it is unclear whether content moderation actions by the provider that do not<em>\u00a0stricto sensu\u00a0<\/em>restrict what content their users can post, such as ranking, recommending or demonetising content, are within the scope of Art. 12 DSA.<\/p><p>The second sentence of paragraph (1) explicitly refers to \u201ccontent moderation\u201d, a concept defined in Art. 2(p) DSA as covering activities undertaken by providers to detect, identify and address user-generated content that is either (i) \u201cillegal content\u201d (Art. 2(g) DSA) or (ii) incompatible with their T&amp;Cs. Interestingly, the JURI Committee proposes to limit the scope of Art. 12(1) DSA to illegal content (<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/doceo\/document\/JURI-PA-694960_EN.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">amendment 38<\/a><\/strong>), whereas the European Parliament\u2019s Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) aims to expand this provision by mandating providers to also inform users of any \u201csignificant change\u201d made to the T&amp;Cs (<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/doceo\/document\/IMCO-PR-693594_EN.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">amendment 84<\/a><\/strong>).<\/p><p>Further, the provision explicitly mentions \u201calgorithmic decision-making\u201d, raising the important question of what providing information on \u201cany policies, procedures, measures and tools\u201d might look like (on this see e.g.\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dl.acm.org\/doi\/10.1145\/3351095.3372833\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">here<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/scholarship.law.duke.edu\/cgi\/viewcontent.cgi?article=1315&amp;context=dltr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">here<\/a><\/strong>, and\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.coe.int\/en\/web\/freedom-expression\/committee-of-ministers-adopted-texts\/-\/asset_publisher\/aDXmrol0vvsU\/content\/recommendation-cm-rec-2020-1-of-the-committee-of-ministers-to-member-states-on-the-human-rights-impacts-of-algorithmic-systems?_101_INSTANCE_aDXmrol0vvsU_viewMode=view\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">here<\/a><\/strong>). However, the exact scope of the paragraph remains unclear, as the phrasing in the first sentence of \u201cany restrictions\u201d appears wider than the definition of content moderation in Art. 2(p) DSA, thereby broadening the provision\u2019s scope.<\/p><p>In its last sentence, Art. 12(1) DSA sets out\u00a0<em>how<\/em>\u00a0this information should be conveyed. Echoing Arts. 7(2), 12(1) and 14(2)\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/legal-content\/EN\/TXT\/PDF\/?uri=CELEX:32016R0679\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">GDPR<\/a><\/strong>, the T&amp;Cs should be \u201cclear\u201d. However, where the GDPR refers to \u201cclear and plain\u201d language, Art. 12(1) DSA goes one step further by requiring \u201cunambiguous\u201d information, which appears to result in a higher threshold obligation.<\/p><p>Finally, Art. 29(1) DSA sets out a somewhat similar (although less detailed) information obligation for VLOPs regarding recommender systems (for a discussion see\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/policyreview.info\/articles\/news\/regulation-news-recommenders-digital-services-act-empowering-david-against-very-large\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">here<\/a><\/strong>).<\/p><h4 class=\"fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" data-fontsize=\"22\" data-lineheight=\"26.4px\">Article 12(2) DSA: Applying fundamental rights in content moderation?<\/h4><p>From a fundamental rights perspective, the exciting part of Art. 12 DSA is paragraph (2), which regulates the application and enforcement of T&amp;Cs:<\/p><p><em>\u201cProviders of intermediary services shall act in a diligent, objective and proportionate manner in applying and enforcing the restrictions referred to in paragraph 1, with due regard to the rights and legitimate interests of all parties involved, including the applicable fundamental rights of the recipients of the service as enshrined in the Charter.\u201d<\/em><\/p><p>The scope is the same as paragraph (1): it only applies to the enforcement of T&amp;Cs that restrict user-generated content. The core obligation is directed at the providers to weigh the \u201crights and legitimate interests of all parties involved\u201d in a \u201cdiligent, objective and proportionate\u201d way when applying their T&amp;Cs. Several legislative amendments expand on this obligation with requirements for application, such as that it must be timely, non-discriminatory, fair, transparent, coherent, predictable and non-arbitrary (see e.g.\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/doceo\/document\/IMCO-PR-693594_EN.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">IMCO 85<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/doceo\/document\/LIBE-PA-692898_EN.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">LIBE 59<\/a><\/strong>).<\/p><p>As with paragraph (1), the extent of this obligation is unclear. In particular, the provision obligates intermediaries to have due regard to the \u201capplicable\u201d fundamental rights without clarifying what fundamental rights are already applicable in the\u00a0<em>horizontal<\/em>\u00a0relationship between intermediary and user. This matters, since the extent to which users can directly or even indirectly appeal to their fundamental rights vis-\u00e0-vis an intermediary in its content moderation decisions is a\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.econstor.eu\/bitstream\/10419\/218939\/1\/2020-2-1484.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">controversial\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/intersentia.com\/en\/intermediary-liability-and-freedom-of-expression-in-the-eu-from-concepts-to-safeguards.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\"><strong>issue<\/strong>.<\/a><\/p><p>In our view, Art. 12(2) DSA can be read in two ways. First, it can be understood as only referring to fundamental rights, which are already applicable in the horizontal relation between intermediaries and users. If so, the provision leaves undetermined the extent to which these are applicable and only obligates intermediaries to have \u201cdue regard\u201d if any such rights are applicable. A second and broader interpretation is that Art. 12(2) DSA aims to declare fundamental rights directly applicable in the horizontal relation between intermediaries and users. This would certainly include the right to freedom of expression in Art. 11 Charter (e.g., for users posting content) and the right to non-discrimination in Art. 21 Charter (e.g., for users targeted by content) as well as, potentially, via Art. 52(3) Charter, the extensive case law of the ECtHR.<\/p><p>An obligation in line with the second interpretation would be remarkable, as it would target private actors\u00a0<em>and<\/em>\u00a0presumably apply with equal intensity to all intermediaries. Regrettably, the DSA offers little to no guidance on how to actualise this obligation in practice.<\/p><p>For example, even if what is meant by \u201crestrictions\u201d was properly defined, the scope of \u201cdiligent, objective and proportionate\u201d behaviour is fuzzy. Still, promoting \u201cdiligent behaviour by providers of intermediary services\u201d seems to be a core aim of the DSA (Recital 3). The requirement of diligence pops up at various other places in the DSA \u2013 in Arts. 14, 17, 19 and 20 DSA \u2013 primarily in the context of complaint handling by\u00a0<em>hosting<\/em>\u00a0providers. Similarly, the cloudy obligation of enforcing the T&amp;Cs with \u201cdue regard\u201d for fundamental rights gives no concrete insight on the extent to which these rights should be considered in individual (including algorithmic) decision-making processes by service providers.<\/p><p>The upshot is that users might not be able to rely on Art. 12 DSA before a court as a means to effectively protect their fundamental rights against a provider. Concretely: can an individual user appeal directly to fundamental rights based on Art. 12(2) DSA in a complaint procedure under Art. 17(3) DSA? The LIBE Committee partially circumvents this problem by proposing a new paragraph 12(2)a that provides that \u201clegal information\u201d can only be excluded or limited from the providers\u2019 services when \u201cobjectively justified and on clearly defined grounds\u201d (<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/doceo\/document\/LIBE-PA-692898_EN.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">LIBE 60<\/a><\/strong>).<\/p><p>Finally, it is unclear as how broad the scope of \u201call parties involved\u201d should be understood. It explicitly includes the users affected by the restriction being applied and enforced. For online platforms, it will also presumably include trusted flaggers and other notifiers covered by Arts. 19 and 20 DSA. Beyond that it is difficult to identify other relevant parties at this stage.<\/p><h4 class=\"fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" data-fontsize=\"22\" data-lineheight=\"26.4px\">Conclusion: avoiding paper tigers<\/h4><p>On the surface, Art. 12 DSA looks like a substantial expansion of intermediaries\u2019 responsibilities and a key provision to reign in platforms\u2019 private power over online speech. It holds particular promise to constrain Big Tech\u2019s algorithmic content moderation practices. But a deeper analysis leaves more questions than answers.<\/p><p>Art. 12(1) DSA imposes an information obligation regarding restrictions imposed on users of intermediary services, which obligation extends to algorithmic decision-making. Art. 12(2) DSA introduces an apparently broad obligation for providers to act in a diligent, objective and proportionate manner when applying and enforcing such restrictions, explicitly linked to the respect of fundamental rights. Furthermore, the provision expands the scope of the obligations beyond illegal content, applying also to content which intermediaries consider harmful or undesirable in their T&amp;Cs. These horizontal obligations for all providers of intermediary services providers are welcome additions to EU law.<\/p><p>However, Art. 12(2) DSA, in particular, is too vague on what its crucial obligation entails and the extent to which intermediaries are required to apply fundamental rights in content moderation. The amendments under discussion in the European Parliament are unlikely to offer the necessary clarity in this regard. As a result, if the legislative text remains unchanged or is significantly improved, the application and enforcement dimension of Art. 12 DSA will likely only be effective if and when courts are called to interpret it. Until then, the risk is that Art. 12 DSA remains a paper tiger, ineffectual in regulating the private power of Big Tech via-\u00e0-vis online speech.<\/p><p>To avoid this outcome, the EU legislator should first take a normative stand in the DSA and clarify whether the express purpose of Art. 12 DSA is to oblige providers to apply fundamental rights law in content moderation decisions. Platforms may already be going some way in this direction, as exemplified in Facebook\u2019s\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/oversightboard.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Oversight Board<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/oversightboard.com\/decision\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">decisions<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0that apply freedom of expression principles under the\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/en\/professionalinterest\/pages\/ccpr.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights<\/a><\/strong>. Similarly, some national courts are applying fundamental rights to decisions taken by platforms to remove content (see a Dutch example\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl\/inziendocument?id=ECLI:NL:RBAMS:2020:4435\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">here<\/a><\/strong>) due to their\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/globaldigitalcultures.org\/2021\/02\/12\/deplatforming-politicians-and-the-implications-for-europe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">immense power over public debate online<\/a><\/strong>. Second, the legislative process should be used to incorporate more concrete links to Art. 12 throughout the DSA, so as to substantiate the meaning and effect of the provision. In particular, if the main concern is to constrain the private power of Big Tech, legislative intervention should focus on linking Art. 12 DSA to the due diligence obligations of VLOPs.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3af9e1c0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3af9e1c0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e374b4b\" data-id=\"e374b4b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7bcba5b3 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7bcba5b3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This piece was originally published by Verfassungsblog.de. View the original publication <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/verfassungsblog.de\/power-dsa-dma-06\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2f824446 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2f824446\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-571df02d\" data-id=\"571df02d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1 September 2021 Using Terms and Conditions to apply Fundamental Rights to Content Moderation Is Article 12 DSA a Paper [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":836,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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