Very Large Online Platforms and Search Engines to publish second transparency reports under the DSA

While the exact deadlines differ slightly from service to service, all of them will have to have their reports published by 6 May.

Transparency Reports are part of a larger array of provisions aiming at enhancing transparency and accountability of online content moderation . The reports complement the Transparency Database in publicly collecting information about the content moderation operated by platforms, whereas the data access for researchers and external audit s will ensure expert-led public oversight.

The transparency reports are required to contain detailed information on the platforms' content moderation practices, including the count of user notifications and submissions from trusted flaggers, the volume of content automatically removed by the platforms, the number of orders from national judicial or administrative bodies, and metrics on the ac curacy of automatic systems processing user notices and moderating content . The reports are also expected to shed light on the composition of content moderation teams, including their qualifications and language skills.

The first group of Very Large Online Platforms and Search Engines had previously submitted their first transparency reports at the end of October 2023. The second round of VLOPs, which includes Pornhub, Stripchat , and XVideos , designated in December 2023, will release their first reports in June 2024. The DSA obligates VLOPs and VLOSEs to publish such reports at least every six months . Additionally, since the full application of the DSA in February 2024, platforms with fewer than 45 million users and intermediary services are also now required to produce annual transparency reports.

To assist in this process and to guarantee the comparability of the transparency reports from these providers, the Commission is in the process of adopting an implementing act that will establish report ing templates and harmonized reporting periods.