ZAGREB, 25 Sept (Hina) - The Parliament's Committee on Information, Computerisation and Media on Wednesday endorsed a bill on the Implementation of the EU Digital Services Act, which is aimed at preventing illegal online activities and disinformation.

The purpose of the Digital Services Act, applying to all online platforms since 17 February, is to prevent unlawful and harmful online activities and dissemination of misinformation. The document applies to all providers of digital services acting as intermediaries between consumers and what they buy via online platforms (goods, services, content).

Bernard Gršić, State Secretary at the Justice, Administration and Digital Transformation Ministry, said that the government had designated the Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries (HAKOM) as the coordinator for digital services, with the new law defining also other bodies in charge of implementing the EU regulation.

"This legislative framework will enable greater control on the Internet as users will have better information as to why certain content is recommended to them, and it will significantly improve the removal of unlawful content as soon as possible," Gršić said. 

The Digital Services Act defines a number of new obligations for providers of digital services, harmonised at the EU level and carefully calibrated in relation to the size and reach of the providers of services it applies to, as well as rules for the removal of illegal online content, goods or services.

As regards very large platforms, the European Commission will have the authority of direct supervision, and in the most serious cases, fines can be imposed amounting to up to 6% of total global sales.