Description
How the Digital Services Act can enable researcher access to data of the largest online platforms and search engines - interactive session with the European Commission
EC Joint Research Centre
The Digital Services Act (DSA) entered into full force in February, and aims to create a safer and more trustworthy digital space, where the fundamental rights of all users are protected. As part of the DSA’s transparency obligations, Article 40 of the DSA establishes the obligation of Very
Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) and Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs) to provide researchers with access to data for the purposes of conducting research that
contributes to the detection, understanding and mitigation of systemic risks in the European Union, such as discrimination and the spread of disinformation.
In particular, Article 40(12) of the DSA obliges providers of VLOPs and VLOSEs to give researchers access to data that is publicly available in their interfaces. In addition, Article 40(4) of the DSA establishes a data access mechanism through which researchers who undergo a vetting procedure can obtain access to non-public data for the study of systemic risks in the European Union.
In this workshop, the Commission will present the data access mechanism for vetted researchers and participants will have the opportunity to provide feedback on a detailed proposal for its procedural, technical and operational elements, which is currently being prepared in the form of a delegated act. Participants will get the chance to explore how data access could benefit their research, which challenges they foresee and how these may be overcome. Participants will also hear about how the DSA protects researcher access to publicly available data, and will be able to provide feedback on the data access tools and procedures made available by VLOPs and VLOSEs to this end so far.
