Applying the Digital Services Act to curb transnational repression

A report from ARTICLE 19 Europe, titled "404: Safety not found?", details how digital repression extends far beyond isolated incidents. Research confirms that phishing attacks, coordinated malicious complaints, and the misuse of "extremist" designations are part of a calculated strategy to dismantle independent civil society. These tactics force activists into self-censorship and threaten the survival of organizations that rely entirely on digital spaces to reach their audiences.

Leveraging the Digital Services Act

The European Commission holds a powerful, underutilized tool in the Digital Services Act. Under Articles 34 and 35, major online platforms are mandated to assess and mitigate systemic risks to fundamental rights. If these platforms enable transnational repression, they are failing their legal obligations. The Commission must demand that companies implement meaningful human review of reporting systems and scrutinize government requests driven by political agendas rather than legitimate policy.

Beyond platform regulation, the EU needs a permanent coordination mechanism to provide legal, psychological, and cybersecurity support for victims. Attribution of these attacks is notoriously difficult, but the burden of proof should not fall on the targeted individuals. Protecting freedom of expression requires the EU to act against both the perpetrators and the platforms that inadvertently facilitate their reach.