New rules harmonising transparency reporting format, content, and reporting periods now apply under the Digital Services Act.
As of 1 July 2025, the Implementing Regulation detailing the rules and templates for transparency reporting by providers of intermediary services under the Digital Services Act (DSA) starts to apply. The new rules represent a significant step towards harmonised and comparable transparency reports.
Previously, inconsistent reporting practices hindered the assessment and comparison of moderation practices among intermediary services. The Implementing Regulation addresses these disparities. Providers must report on the number of pieces of content removed, the accuracy of automated content moderation systems, account terminations, and content moderation teams.
While the obligation for intermediary services to publish annual transparency reports on their content moderation practices was in force since 17 February 2024, the implementing regulation harmonises the reporting format, content, and periods for these reports.
The harmonised templates are available in multiple languages, along with instructions on how to complete them. Intermediary services will have to publish their reports by the end of February of each year.
In contrast to intermediary services, the DSA requires very large online platforms (VLOPs) and very large search engines (VLOSEs) to publish transparency reports twice a year. The Implementing Regulation harmonises these biannual reporting periods, establishing them as 1 January to 30 June and 1 July to 31 December. This means that reports will have to be published by end of August and February respectively, with the first harmonised reports due by the end of February 2026.
To ensure consistency between the transparency tools of the DSA, the DSA Transparency Database has also been updated accordingly.
Find more information about the adoption of the Implementing Regulation.
Source: European Commission | Shaping Europe’s digital future | News & Views (https://tinyurl.com/276zz2wj)