Parliament: Digital Services Act passed

Today, Wednesday (3.4.24) was voted in favour of its draft law establishing measures of national law for the full and effective implementation of European Union Regulation 2022/2065, which is more widely known as the Digital Services Act. As the Minister of Digital Governance, Dimitris Papastergiou, the Ministry of Digital Governance, stressed from the House’s stage, systematically monitoring developments in its areas of competence at European level, ensures that Greece participates and forms the framework governing the Internet and new technologies in the coming years, effectively promoting cooperation between (co)competent bodies at national level. The “Act” aims at the so-called “very large web platforms”, while introducing direct implementation rules in all Member States regarding so-called “intermediation services”, such as search engines, hosting providers, online marketplaces and social media. To date 22 large platforms and search engines have been designated by the European Commission, namely: Alibaba Ali Express, Amazon Store, Apple AppStore, Pornhub, Booking.com, Google Search, Google Play, Google Maps, Google Shopping, Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, Stripchat, TikTok, X (former Twitter), XVideos, Wikipedia, Zalando, Bing. What is ensured DSA lays down rules that will equally protect all users in the EU, both with regard to illegal goods, content or services, and their fundamental rights. For example, it shall ensure: Easy way to denounce illegal content, goods or services. Stronger protection for individuals targeted at online harassment and intimidation. Transparency about advertising. Prohibitions of certain types of targeted advertising, such as those using sensitive data or juvenile data. Easy-to-use, free reporting mechanisms in case an online platform reduces content. Simplified terms and conditions. Both the EU and the Member States have the possibility to impose fines of up to 6 % of global revenue. The National Telecommunications and Post Commission (ETT) is the National Coordinator of Digital Services and is responsible for overseeing and checking compliance with the rules of the Digital Services Act in Greece. They have also been designated as competent authorities, the National Broadcasting Council (ESP) and the Personal Character Data Protection Authority (UCDP) on issues related to their responsibilities, such as advertising and protection of minors. In addition, the Ministry of Digital Governance introduced arrangements to further exploit the interoperability of individual electronic applications and registers, in order to facilitate everyday life of citizens and businesses and to strengthen their trust in the state. What has been institutionalized in particular, among others, were institutionalized: The automatic search and abolition of the issuing of documents for the handling of administrative procedures with a view gradually to the supporting documents recorded on the National Register of Administrative Procedures “Mitos” being drawn directly and no longer required to be presented by the citizen. The launch will take place with the possibility of submitting the digital copy of the Identity Card. In particular, the use of a digital copy of an Identity Card of Greek citizens in transactions with public sector bodies aims to upgrade the practices applied for the entire State, as well as to create a framework for minimising the trafficking and maintenance of personal data of citizens, with the continuous use and observance of many copies of the police identity card. Data traffic through Gov.gr Wallet. Citizens are given the opportunity to request the collection of their personal data from the information systems and applications of the public bodies in order to make a transaction with a public or private sector body, after they have previously given their consent. Digital service “Audit-Car”. Through the digital service ‘myAuto’ which is available through Gov.gr Wallet, not only owners, but also the competent audit authorities will have access to vehicle information through the digital service ‘Audit-Car’. The Gigabit Connectivity Coupon (Gigabit Connectivity Voucher Scheme) is hereby established in order to launch the action to subsidise broadband services with connectivity coupons. The aim of the programme is to increase the penetration of high-speed broadband services in the country. A new digital platform is created by the General Secretariat of Information Systems and Digital Governance of the Ministry of Digital Governance called “Know Your Business – “eGov-KYB” to verify and verify the data of legal persons. This will no longer require a physical presence of their legal representatives but the necessary procedure will be completed electronically. An application for a space licence to the General Secretariat of Telecommunications and Post Offices of the Ministry of Digital Governance is hereby established and provision is made for the possibility of setting a one-off fee according to the type of space activity, size and number of space objects and the purposes served.