The European Commission has taken a bold step in enforcing its landmark online safety legislation, the Digital Services Act (DSA), by suing five EU member states for failing to comply with the rules. In a statement released on Tuesday, the Commission announced that it has referred the Czech Republic, Spain, Cyprus, Poland, and Portugal to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
The primary issue? These countries have yet to appoint a Digital Services Coordinator (DSC)—a crucial national authority responsible for enforcing the DSA—and have failed to define the penalties for companies that break the rules.
The DSA, which officially came into force in 2024, is a sweeping regulation aimed at making the internet safer by holding tech platforms accountable for harmful and illegal content. It also introduces strict transparency requirements and enhances users’ rights across the digital space.
“By not fulfilling their obligations under the DSA, these countries are putting their citizens at risk of exposure to unregulated content online and weakening the unified digital market we are working to build,” said the European Commission in its official statement.
The Digital Services Act applies to all digital services that connect consumers to goods, services, or content online, but it imposes the strictest requirements on large platforms like Google, Facebook, and Amazon. Under the regulation, these companies must act swiftly to remove illegal content, provide clear content moderation policies, and submit to external audits.
Each EU country is required to establish a Digital Services Coordinator who will oversee and enforce these rules at the national level. Without this key figure in place, enforcement of the law is impossible, raising concerns about gaps in user protection and inconsistencies across the bloc.
Despite repeated warnings, the five countries named in the lawsuit failed to meet the compliance deadlines, prompting the Commission to escalate the matter to the EU’s highest court. If found in violation, these nations could face financial penalties and be required to make immediate changes to their national laws.
Legal action of this nature is rare but not unprecedented in the EU, which has increasingly focused on creating a safe and regulated digital environment for its citizens. The Commission’s move sends a strong signal that it intends to strictly enforce the DSA across all member states, without exception.
As misinformation, online abuse, and illegal content continue to plague digital platforms, the EU sees the DSA as a cornerstone of its digital policy. However, its success depends heavily on cooperation at the national level.
With these lawsuits now moving forward, the spotlight is on how quickly these countries can bring themselves into alignment—and whether others might soon face similar action.
