The second edition of l'Annual report on systemic risks and mitigation measures, prepared by the Digital Services Board in collaboration with the European Commission, offers an updated view of the main risks present in large online platforms and search engines (VLOPs and VLOSEs), as well as the actions taken to reduce their impact.
This document is part of the application of the Digital Services Act (DSA) and becomes a reference for understanding the evolution of risks in the European digital environment. Its objective is to provide useful information to administrations, regulatory bodies, digital platforms and civil society organizations to move towards a safer, more transparent and responsible digital space.
Among the risks identified are the dissemination of illegal content, threats to fundamental rights and the effects derived from certain platform design decisions. The report also analyses the mitigation measures adopted by the major platforms, which include both specific protection mechanisms and tools aimed at strengthening user control and autonomy.
One of the main conclusions of the report is the special vulnerability of children and adolescents in the digital environment. In this regard, it is highlighted that certain functionalities, such as recommendation systems or some elements of the user interface, can encourage addictive behaviors, increase exposure to harmful content, such as dangerous viral challenges or material unsuitable for minors, and facilitate situations of cyberbullying or online sexual harassment.
The report also highlights the need to continue developing long-term prevention and protection strategies to ensure the safety of minors online. In this way, the DSA reinforces its role as one of the main instruments of transparència and accountability on the operation of digital platforms and their influence on society.
