EU’s Digital Services Act: What It Means for Free Speech in Norway

The Digital Services Act is progressing towards consultation and will soon be integrated into Norwegian law.

The EU’s surveillance system, the Digital Services Act, remains unincorporated into Norwegian law. However, prior to the weekend, the government revealed that the draft law is set to be sent for consultation ahead of the summer. The DSA serves as the European Union’s mechanism for regulating technology behemoths, ensuring they maintain a level of control over the populace.

However, the term censorship does not appear in NTB’s reporting.

The Minister of Digitalization, Karianne Tung, has previously asserted that imposing stricter regulations on major tech giants like Google, Meta, Temu, and Amazon is of utmost importance.

It is commendable that the government has commenced efforts on a new piece of legislation. “This legislation is crucial as it bans behavioural marketing directed at children, an issue we have diligently addressed for an extended period,” remarks Director Line Coll of the Norwegian Data Protection Authority.

The regulations were implemented across EU nations last year. The European Commission has initiated enquiries into TikTok, X, and Meta, among other platforms.

The distinction between the United States and the European Union lies in the fact that, in the US, it was the Democrats, in collaboration with security agencies, who engaged in the monitoring, censorship, and punishment of citizens, thereby contravening the First Amendment. Conversely, in Europe, it is the EU that has established the censorship regulations compelling tech companies to penalise users.

The influence of Trump and the MAGA movement has compelled the tech giants to step back. However, within the EU, developments are unfolding in a decidedly contrary manner.

The Norwegian Data Protection Authority is set to oversee privacy matters under the EU’s Digital Services Regulation (DSA). The efforts to integrate the regulation are already in progress.

The Digital Services Act aims to safeguard users against illegal content and manipulation online.

Among other measures, there will be a prohibition on marketing practices that are behaviorally based or specifically targeted at minors.

It is imperative that fundamental rights, including privacy, freedom of expression, freedom of information, and non-discrimination, be safeguarded. The aim is to ensure that the internet becomes a more secure environment for users to navigate.

The onus lies with technology companies to guarantee adherence to the law.

In Norway, the facade of the censorship regime is finally beginning to fade. The challenges facing Europeans are formidable, yet they might find motivation in the example set by Trump’s America.