Internet
Bundestag passes Digital Services Act
View from the Federal Chancellery onto the dome of the Reichstag building with the Bundestag. The Bundestag has passed the Digital Services Act. photo
© Philipp Znidar/dpa
In the fight against disinformation, hate speech and manipulation on the Internet, the Bundestag has now passed the Digital Services Act. It serves to implement the so-called EU Digital Services Act.
Illegal content on platforms should be combated better – to implement obligations for online services The Bundestag passed a law on Thursday. The Federal Network Agency plays a central role in the Digital Services Act.
Federal Digital Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) said: “It is high time to do something about increasing disinformation, hate speech, illegal content and manipulation on the internet.” Wissing referred to the European elections in June and state elections in September in Saxony, Thuringia and Brandenburg. “We must not and we will not leave the internet to those who are enemies of democracy and people,” said Wissing. “We want every citizen to be able to move safely and freely online.
To implement the EU Digital Services Act
The law serves to implement the requirements of the EU’s so-called Digital Services Act. The rules have also applied to smaller platform operators since February 17th. The EU Commission is already responsible for monitoring online giants like Google. For smaller providers in Germany this should now be the Federal Network Agency. According to Wissing, there are more than 5,000 providers in Germany. An independent coordination office for digital services will be created within the authority.
SPD parliamentary group vice-president Detlef Müller said: “Disinformation and hate comments on platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Co. are not just annoying, in many cases they have also developed into a real danger for our democracy and any constructive discourse.”
AfD speaks of “internet censorship”
The AfD MP Beatrix von Storch, on the other hand, spoke of “internet censorship”. The CSU politician Reinhard Brandl criticized the fact that no structure was created so that reports of violations of the Digital Services Act could be properly processed.
The law also regulates fines and penalty payments for violations of the Digital Services Act. These can be sanctioned for platform operators with up to 6 percent of their annual turnover.