Recommendation 3: The implementation of the DSA should also be strengthened at the national level.

The success of the DSA across the EU relies also on the efforts of Digital Services Coordinators (DSCs) —national authorities responsible for enforcing the DSA for non-VLOPs/VLOSEs, certifying third-party actors, and acting as a hub for user complaints. In September, DRI held three focus groups with DSCs and other stakeholders and found significant challenges hindering their work. We recommend that the European Board for Digital Services invest in targeted capacity-building initiatives for DSCs, public awareness campaigns to inform citizens of their rights under the DSA, and increased funding for trusted flaggers.

• From Policy to Practice: How are Digital Services Coordinators meeting their DSA mandates? (October 2024).

• The DSA now applies in full: What can we expect? (February 2024).