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The Digital Services Act is Here. Nisos Can Help!
Since August 2023, the DSA has only applied to very large online platforms and search engines (VLOPs) and (VLOSEs) with at least 45 million monthly EU users. Now, it applies to all digital services that provide goods and services to the EU, regardless of size. This includes VLOPs and VLOSEs, online platforms, hosting services, and intermediary services, all of which have new and differing requirements including:
Combat illegal goods, services, and content:
The DSA does not hold online platforms responsible for illegal goods, services, and content if they are unaware of the offending content or if they remove it promptly once they are aware. Platforms must cooperate with “trusted flaggers” to remove illegal content and increase/improve reporting mechanisms for users. This will likely substantially increase user reports of inappropriate content.
Nisos analysts proactively identify illegal goods, services, and content on platforms, reducing the volume of takedown requests from users. We investigate the activity and attribute it to the individuals responsible for using open-source intelligence, including publicly available leaked data, on and off-platform posts, business registration records, advertising data, and more.
Safeguard elections:
VLOPs and VLOSEs must identify and mitigate risks, including election manipulation. Regulators expect quicker responses to flagged content, increased content moderation resources, and additional fact-checking. This will be a high priority given the EU elections from 6-9 June.
Months before an election, Nisos analysts monitor and assess the risk of election interference/manipulation on platforms. We identify likely perpetrators and sock puppet accounts engaged in or linked to coordinated inauthentic behavior (CIB). We find and analyze both covert and overt disinformation operations by tracking narratives, connecting identifiers across platforms, monitoring hashtags, trending topics, mentions, reposts, and more.
Limit targeted advertising:
The DSA bans online advertising to children and advertising based on ethnicity, sexual orientation, political views, and other sensitive data. Bad actors will almost certainly attempt to circumvent these bans to mount disinformation campaigns, given that they have capitalized on divisions around many of these topics during previous high-profile elections.
Nisos leverages its deep expertise and adversarial mindset to analyze the risks of platform misuse and craft mitigation strategies as an extension of your team. We anticipate the potential misuse of new features and position you to mitigate risks to users, including those involving disinformation, child abuse, and violence against women.
Know their online customers (aka sellers):
Online marketplaces must verify the identities of third-party sellers on online marketplaces and ensure products are not stolen or illegal goods. These new requirements will force platforms to tackle organized retail crime and e-commerce fraud.
Nisos conducts due diligence on third-party sellers, analyzing reviews for CIB and verifying their business licenses and the legitimacy of their offerings through analysis of their digital footprints. We proactively find and attribute online fencers—individuals who knowingly buy stolen merchandise to resell for profit online—to ensure compliance with DSA rules and help tackle organized retail crime. We partner with retailers, platforms, and law enforcement to keep online marketplaces compliant.
Identify and mitigate risks:
VLOPs and VLOSEs must conduct independent audits of their risk management procedures. Platforms have to address the risk of misuse of their platforms, including disinformation, child abuse, and violence against women.
Nisos leverages its deep expertise and adversarial mindset to analyze the risks of platform misuse and craft mitigation strategies as an extension of your team. We anticipate the potential misuse of new features and position you to mitigate risks to users, including those involving disinformation, child abuse, and violence against women.
About Nisos®
Nisos is The Managed Intelligence Company®. Our analyst-led intel investigations, assessments, and monitoring services empower your security, intelligence and trust and safety teams. We provide accurate, customized intelligence that guides your security and risk decisions – protecting your organization, assets, and people. Learn more at nisos.com.