The Digital Services Act and Palestinian Digital Rights: A Complex Intersection

Itxaso Domínguez de Olazábal is the EU Advocacy Officer at 7amleh – The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media, a non-profit organization dedicated to defending Palestinian digital rights. Shutterstock Amid the much-anticipated implementation of the Digital Services Act (DSA) as a cornerstone in fortifying digital rights for European Union (EU) citizens, a significant concern arises. While the text is heralded as a positive step in addressing illegal and harmful content, there is growing apprehension about its unintended repercussions on the digital rights of Palestinians and other vulnerable communities, notably those in the Global South. 7amleh-The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media has vigilantly monitored this issue since the onset of negotiations around the DSA, emphasizing the intricate relationship between the Israel/Palestine context, the Global South as a whole, and EU legislation. Unfortunately, as the invasion of Gaza and the violence against Palestinians everywhere else unfold our concerns have been validated. The current realities on the ground underscore the global and potentially adverse implications of the DSA for those already grappling with power imbalances. As part of the DSA Human Rights Alliance, we have consistently urged EU institutions to prioritize the risks confronting vulnerable or marginalized communities, both within and beyond the EU’s borders. While initial concern about the DSA from civil society groups focused on the potential replication of laws empowering illiberal regimes, the dark side of the so-called ‘Brussels effect’, what we observe today is the DSA’s adverse impact stemming from content moderation decisions that extend…The Digital Services Act and Palestinian Digital Rights: A Complex Intersection