FREDERICK FLORIN AFP BRUSSELS - The European Council said on Saturday it has reached a provisional political agreement with the European Parliament on a new legislation to combat hate speech, disinformation and other harmful content online.
The European Council said in a press release that the Digital Services Act DSA aims to protect the digital space against the spread of illegal content and to ensure the protection of users' fundamental rights.
The agreement was reached after negotiators from the council and the parliament agreed on a provisional text for new rules to make the Internet safer for European citizens. The talks started on Friday and continued until the early hours of Saturday.
According to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the DSA gives practical effect to the principle that what is illegal offline, should be illegal online, and will improve the ground rules for all online services in the EU. ALSO READ: EU push to move faster against online extremism.
Before the legislation takes effect, the provisional political agreement will have to be rubber-stamped by the European Parliament and the European Council.