The European Digital Services Act (DSA) has recently come into effect, prompting the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) to release guidelines to assist businesses in navigating the new regulations. The guidelines explain the types of services covered by the DSA, the rules that providers must adhere to, and how businesses can ensure compliance.

The DSA applies to a wide range of businesses, including social media platforms, search engines, online marketplaces, internet providers, web hosting service providers, online stores, and online forums. The guidelines were developed following a public consultation with market participants in the digital sector to incorporate their feedback.

ACM emphasizes the complexity of the DSA and the varying rules that businesses must follow. To address the need for practical information among businesses, ACM plans to provide additional concise guidelines tailored to different types of businesses. In addition to the guidelines, ACM will host a digital information meeting on November 21, 2024, to further educate businesses on the implications of the DSA.

As the regulator-designate for the DSA in the Netherlands, ACM will play a key role in enforcing the new regulations once the Dutch implementing act is in place, expected in early 2025. In the meantime, ACM encourages businesses and consumers to report any non-compliance with the DSA, which will aid in effective enforcement actions once ACM is fully authorized to do so.