Bun­desnet­za­gen­tur tests pro­ce­dures and ac­tion for in­fringe­ments of the Dig­i­tal Ser­vices Act

Year of issue 2025
Date of issue 2025.01.31

The Bundesnetzagentur, as Digital Services Coordinator, today carried out a stress test together with the European Commission ahead of the German federal elections. 

"Today we ran practical tests on what we agreed last week with the large online platforms. The platforms know the requirements of the Digital Services Act and our national election laws. Today we realistically simulated possible infringements, tested the platforms’ reporting procedures and mechanisms and practised action and the relevant exchange of information. As Digital Services Coordinator we are well prepared, with tasks assigned to the national authorities and communication paths to all relevant players in place," said Klaus Müller, President of the Bundesnetzagentur and acting head of the DSC.

Several fictitious scenarios were simulated to test the very large online platforms’ preparations. The aim of the stress test was to identify and minimise potential risks within the meaning of the DSA in connection with the national elections and to eliminate infringements swiftly and effectively.

Representatives of Google (YouTube), LinkedIn, Microsoft, Meta (Facebook, Instagram), Snapchat, TikTok and X as well as of national authorities and civil society organisations took part in the stress test. The test followed on from the round table held on 24 January 2025 and is part of a series of events organised by the European Commission and national DSCs in the run-up to elections. 

DSA protects the integrity of elections

The DSA sets new, uniform standards for a safe, predictable and trustworthy online environment. It contains rules for dealing with illegal content while also protecting freedom of expression and information online.

It additionally requires very large online platforms and search engines (VLOPs/VLOSEs) such as X, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok to analyse, assess and, where possible, mitigate systemic risks stemming from their services. These may include risks to minors, risks to fundamental rights from the dissemination of illegal content and risks to electoral processes. The European Commission holds the supervisory role for this issue.

The election guidelines published by the European Commission in 2024 contain recommendations for the mitigation of systemic risks that could affect the integrity of elections, such as the widespread dissemination of illegal content or the manipulation of information by foreign interference online.

Tasks of the DSC

The Bundesnetzagentur, as the DSC, is the central coordinating body for enforcement of the DSA in Germany. The DSC monitors service providers and online platforms for compliance with their obligations, acts as a central point for complaints by online users when the DSA has been violated and coordinates cooperation between competent authorities in Germany and the EU. The DSC certifies out-of-court dispute settlement bodies and trusted flaggers. Upon request the DSC can grant vetted researchers access to the data of very large online platforms and search engines.

The DSC is supported in its work by the Federal Agency for Child and Youth Protection in the Media (BzKJ), the Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia coordinating for the competent bodies for media monitoring, and the Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI). It also works closely with the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) and the Bundeskriminalamt.

Further information about the DSC is available (in German) at www.dsc.bund.de.

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