Digital Policy Lab: Policy Digest #14

Policy Digests offer an overview of recent digital policy developments in Digital Policy Lab (DPL) member countries, including regulatory and non-regulatory initiatives aiming to combat online harms such as disinformation, hate speech, extremist or terrorist content.

The Australian eSafety Commissioner published consultations on online safety industry standards drafts and the amended Online Safety (Basic Online Safety Expectations) Determination. The European Commission carried out various actions under the Digital Services Act (DSA), including launching infringement proceedings against the platform X, sending formal requests to VLOPs and VLOSEs, designating new VLOPs, and launching a public consultation on electoral integrity guidelines. The European Union Committee of Permanent Representatives unanimously voted on the Artificial Intelligence Act. Furthermore, the branches of European government reached a political agreement on the European Media Freedom Act. In Germany and the Netherlands, DSA implementation laws were introduced, allowing national media regulators to shortly assume responsibilities as Digital Services Coordinators. The Irish media regulator (Coimisiún na Meán) launched a consultation on its draft Online Safety Code and designated Video-Sharing Platform Services. In the United Kingdom, the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill passed its second reading. The United States Secretary of Commerce announced the creation of a national AI Safety Institute Consortium, and many states introduced laws on the use of generative AI in elections. The US Senate also conducted a hearing on child safety and exploitation, including testimony from several Big Tech CEOs.