New Reporting Standard Under the DSA
The European Commission's Implementing Regulation on DSA transparency reporting, published in November 2024, introduced standardized templates that all platforms within the DSA's scope must use starting July 1, 2025.
This is a significant operational change. Previously, platforms could use free-format reports. Now, both quantitative and qualitative data must follow a prescribed structure, making cross-platform comparison possible for the first time.
Who Must Report?
- All intermediary services — from hosting providers to search engines
- Online platforms — including marketplaces, social media, app stores
- VLOPs and VLOSEs — aligned reporting periods based on designation date
Micro and small enterprises are exempt from most reporting obligations, but not from the basic DSA requirements.
What Must Be Reported?
- Content moderation decisions — volume, type, basis (illegal vs. terms of service)
- Complaints received and outcomes
- Use of automated content moderation tools
- Trusted flagger reports and actions taken
- Out-of-court dispute resolution statistics
- Advertising transparency data (for online platforms)
Key Deadlines
- July 1, 2025 — start collecting data per new templates
- Early 2026 — first harmonized reports due
- Reports must be published within 2 months after the reporting period ends
Practical Steps for Platform Operators
- Download the templates — available from the Commission's DSA website
- Audit your content moderation system — ensure it can generate the required data categories
- Update your Transparency Database submissions — statement-of-reason format aligns with the new templates from July 2025
- Register with your Digital Services Coordinator — if not already done
- Designate a compliance officer — responsible for report accuracy
Operating a platform in the EU? Contact us for a DSA compliance review.