Big Tech, namely, X, Instagram and TikTok, are powerful. Sometimes they play loose and fast with those powers. This can lead people to be misled or manipulated. But on February 17, the European Digital Services Act (DSA) officially came into effect. It’s an achievement that Bits of Freedom and KesselsKramer have worked hard on.
The act ensures that Big Tech cannot just do as they please with shadowbanning and removing posts and accounts without explanation. So that critical voices remain heard online. The new European law protects people against censorship, privacy infringement, and algorithmic bias.
Gijs van den Berg, creative director at KesselsKramer, commented, “Freedom of communication is a fundamental right, also online. By communicating the new laws and the right settings, we give users their voice back on digital platforms.”
Bits of Freedom and KesselsKramer are unveiling a new website where everyone can read what these laws mean for them, and in a campaign urge everyone to Stay loud.
Social media platforms are handy, even for activists, NGOs, and other critical voices. They can easily connect with others, spread their message, and gather like-minded individuals. However, these platforms are powerful companies that hide behind their algorithms and can determine who is heard and who is not.
The new law will only have power if people understand what it entails and how they can use it. Much of it only works if people activate certain settings. So Bits of Freedom calls on activists, NGOs, and other critical voices to stay vocal. The campaign includes a manifesto, already signed by organisations and people such as Amnesty and Alexander Klöpping, as well as portraits and animations of three activists who, like Bits of Freedom, fight against unfair technology and for human rights. In these portraits, the mouths are manipulated to visually illustrate how social media affects the reach of critical voices. Organisations and activists are invited to share the campaign with their networks, ensuring that the new laws reach an even wider audience.
“We are very pleased with the new rights that better protect us against the power and arbitrariness of Big Tech. It’s great to see that the law we’ve been working on behind the scenes is finally in effect,” stated Lotje Beek, policy advisor at Bits of Freedom. “We hope that the DSA gives critical voices the reach they deserve.”
On the website, jouwplatformrechten.nl, designed by the digital branch of KesselsKramer, kesselskramer.digital, everyone can read what the new platform rights mean for them. It focuses on the long term and evolves continuously to stay in line with the laws and ensure people’s future control over platforms. It also includes the manifesto and campaign materials to download to make the laws even more widely known. The website will also be used by partner NGOs in countries such as Poland and Germany.
