plattformansvaret

plattformansvaret is a legal concept describing the responsibilities and, in some cases, liabilities of online platform operators for content and activity on their services. It encompasses how platforms moderate user-generated content, respond to illegal or harmful material, and protect users from abuse, misinformation, and other risks. While kept neutral, it recognizes that platforms can influence public discourse and safety through their policies and tools.

In the European Union, the precise liability of intermediaries has historically rested on the E-Commerce Directive, which generally shields hosting providers from liability for user content if they act as mere conduits and do not have actual knowledge of illegality; upon receiving a notification, they must act expeditiously to remove or disable access to the content. The Digital Services Act (DSA) expands these duties, especially for very large online platforms, by imposing risk assessments, content moderation transparency, redress mechanisms, age-appropriate safeguards, and data access requirements for oversight and research.

Practically, plattformansvaret is implemented via terms of service, notice-and-takedown procedures, content moderation policies, user reporting mechanisms, and transparency reporting. Compliance costs and policy choices shape how platforms balance user expression with safety, and small platforms face different pressures compared with global, very large platforms.

Critics argue that the evolving framework can both curb illegal activity and risk over-censorship, while supporters emphasize improved accountability and user protection. The concept applies to sectors such as social media, video sharing, marketplaces, and app stores.