Building User Trust Through Open Practices
DSA compliance transparency is fundamental for digital businesses operating in Europe. The Digital Services Act (DSA) sets clear expectations about how to manage your online content. And, understanding these DSA transparency rules is crucial.
The act was created to make online spaces safer and push companies to be open about how they handle content, use algorithms, and show ads.
As decision-makers, you need to get this right—not just to follow rules but to build trust with your users.
What DSA Compliance Transparency Really Means
The DSA sets clear rules for platforms that provide digital services to EU users, from small apps to giant social networks. It doesn’t matter where you’re located; you must comply if you have European clients.
The core of DSA compliance is transparency.
You have to explain your processes in plain language (simple terms). That means no hiding behind tech jargon or vague statements. Users want to know what’s happening behind the scenes, and the law agrees.
For us, at 7ASecurity, this transparency is a strength. Our security audits and pentests dig into your systems, giving you clear reports to share with regulators and users.
Understanding Content Moderation Requirements
A big part of the DSA guidelines looks at how you manage the content users share on your platform. It means you must tell users how you decide what stays online and what gets removed—like illegal content or misinformation.
This content should also be easy to find.
For example, if you remove or restrict user content, you have to share a “statement of reasons.” This explanation must be clear, specific, and directly linked to your terms of service or relevant legal rules.
You’re also required to publish transparency reports. These should detail the volume of user reports you receive, your actions, and the time it takes to act.
Algorithmic Accountability: Opening the Black Box
Algorithms drive much of our online experiences, and DSA compliance transparency is here to ensure that your algorithms and programs are fair. This is called algorithmic accountability.
Users have a right to understand how your system works at a basic level. You must explain to visitors how your site will use their personal information to make recommendations and product suggestions.
More than just understanding how your platform will do this, users must also be able to change or turn off these recommendations.
By being upfront about how you use personal data, you’re adhering to DSA compliance transparency and showing visitors they can trust you.
If you’re forthcoming, people are less likely to think you’re trying to trick them.
Honest Advertising: Ad Transparency
Users must immediately know something is an ad when looking at it—for example, paid reviews. Ads must be clearly marked so they don’t look like your “normal” content.
You also need to clearly state who is advertising and who paid for the advert. If the person paying differs from the advertised brand, that needs to be clear, too.
You must explain why visitors see a specific ad, telling them what information was used to target them. And, importantly, give them the option to change these settings.
Lastly, you must pay attention to your ad targeting. Under the EU’s DSA compliance, you are not allowed to target children or use sensitive information to target people.
Why DSA Compliance Transparency Pays Off
Being open about content moderation requirements, algorithmic accountability, and ad transparency shows users you’re on their side. And more than that, you’ll avoid legal headaches and build a reputation as a trustworthy player in the EU market.
As cybersecurity experts, 7ASecurity understands the technical complexities of keeping your systems secure and on the right side of the DSA compliance transparency.
