Strasbourg: Cypriot MEPs have highlighted the importance of the Digital Services Act in creating a safer digital environment for both citizens and businesses within the European Union.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the MEPs expressed their views following a debate held at the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg. They also raised concerns about potential threats to freedom of expression and the risk of the Act’s provisions being misused for unintended purposes.
Loucas Fourlas, an MEP from DISY and EPP, emphasized that the Digital Services Act is a significant step forward in reinforcing digital governance and shielding European citizens from illegal content and misinformation. He noted, however, that differing opinions among Member States and MEPs indicate a lack of unified external policy within the EU, which hampers its collective efficacy.
Similarly, Michalis Hadjipantela, also from DISY and EPP, supported the Act as a means to foster a safer, more transparent online environment while
ensuring that smaller businesses are not unduly burdened. He described the Act as a balanced approach that protects user rights, enhances transparency, and promotes a secure digital ecosystem that respects competitiveness and innovation, particularly for SMEs and start-ups.
Giorgos Georgiou, representing AKEL and the Left, criticized the European Commission for its inaction against the controversial practices of major digital companies. He argued that without addressing the underlying business models of Big Tech platforms, efforts to combat hate speech and misinformation would remain inadequate. Georgiou called for Europe to reclaim digital sovereignty by strengthening the Legislative Act and exploring public or social alternative platforms like Bluesky or Mastodon.
Costas Mavrides, from DIKO and the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, underscored the need for freedom of expression to operate within the bounds of EU legal frameworks. He argued that restrictions are necessary to prevent the abu
se of dominant positions in information dissemination, especially from authoritarian regimes.
Geadis Geadi of ELAM and the European Conservatives and Reformists group warned against the potential misuse of the Digital Services Act as a tool for censorship. He advocated for a reassessment of the Act to protect fundamental rights without compromising user freedoms.
Independent MEP Fidias Panayiotou voiced concerns over accusations from Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk about the EU institutionalizing censorship. He stressed the importance of examining these claims and suggested inviting both tech leaders to discuss content moderation with the European Parliament.
During the debate, a pilot system was implemented where the list of speakers was disclosed spontaneously, contributing to an increased participation rate, with around 150 MEPs engaging in the discussion, according to EP sources.