The Digital Services Act (DSA) is European legislation that sets rules for online services, such as webshops, platforms and services that let users post content. For most small websites, the obligations are limited, but anyone running a webshop or allowing users to comment, upload or sell faces concrete requirements regarding transparency, contact details and complaint handling.
What is the Digital Services Act?
The Digital Services Act is a European regulation intended to make online platforms and services safer and more transparent. Among other things, the law regulates how companies must deal with illegal content, how users can file complaints, and what information companies are required to display on their website. The DSA applies alongside existing legislation such as the GDPR and specifically targets the online offering of services and products.
Important to know: the DSA distinguishes between different types of services. Large platforms have heavy obligations, but smaller webshops and websites with user interaction also face basic rules.
Who does the DSA apply to?
The rules are relevant for:
- Webshops selling products or services online
- Websites where users can post reviews, comments or content
- Marketplaces and platforms that let third parties sell
- Services acting as an intermediary between providers and consumers
A simple brochure website without user interaction or a sales function generally falls outside the heaviest obligations, but general transparency requirements regarding contact details and company information apply in practice to almost every commercial website.
Concrete obligations for webshops and websites
Depending on the type of service, different obligations apply. The most relevant ones for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs are:
- Clear contact details — visitors must be able to easily see who is behind the website, including a valid email address.
- Transparent terms — terms and conditions and content policies must be understandable and accessible.
- Complaint procedure — platforms with user-generated content must provide an accessible way to report illegal content.
- Advertising transparency — if you display ads, it must be clear who the advertiser is and why a particular ad is shown.
- No misleading design patterns — so-called “dark patterns” that mislead users are not allowed.
How do you make sure your website complies?
The technical and organizational foundation of your website plays an important role in complying with the DSA. Think of reliable hosting, a working business email address for complaints and requests, and a correctly set-up contact form.
Check your company information
Display your name, address, Chamber of Commerce number and a valid email address clearly on the website.
Set up a complaints channel
Make sure you have a working business email address or form where users can report issues. You can easily set this up via business email linked to your own domain.
Check user-generated content
If visitors can post reviews or content, make sure there is a clear procedure to report and remove illegal or misleading content.
Check your ads and cookie banner
Ensure ads and tracking choices are presented transparently and fairly, without misleading buttons or pre-selected options.
Keep your hosting environment in order
A reliable web hosting environment with proper SSL security and up-to-date backups is part of a professional, compliant website. In Plesk, you can easily see which domains and email addresses are linked to your account.
If you have doubts about the technical setup of your website or want to switch to a hosting environment you can manage yourself, check out the steps to switch to Tandata or consult the knowledge base for practical instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Does the DSA also apply to small webshops?
Yes, general transparency requirements such as clear contact details apply to almost all commercial websites, including small webshops. The heaviest obligations mainly apply to large platforms.
Do I need to update my terms and conditions?
Check whether your terms and policies are clearly and understandably written and whether contact details for complaints are correctly listed. When in doubt, legal advice is wise.
What exactly are dark patterns?
These are design choices that mislead users, such as pre-selected opt-ins or confusing buttons for cancelling subscriptions. The DSA prohibits these kinds of misleading patterns.
Does my hosting provider play a role in DSA compliance?
Hosting itself does not arrange legal compliance, but a reliable environment with proper email, SSL and domain management does help ensure your technical foundation is in order.
Where can I find my domain details?
Via your domain names management, you can check whether your contact details are correctly and currently set.
Conclusion
The Digital Services Act sets clear requirements regarding transparency, contact details and complaint handling for webshops and websites with user interaction. By keeping your company information in order, setting up a working complaints channel and properly managing your technical foundation, you meet the main obligations.