IFTAS Introduces Digital Services Act (DSA) Guide For Fediverse Services

IFTAS Collaborates with Tremau to Help Fediverse Administrators Navigate Complex Regulations and Achieve DSA Compliance

NEW YORK, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Independent Federated Trust & Safety (IFTAS), a nonprofit supporting trust and safety on the open social web, today announced the introduction of its Digital Service Act (DSA) Guide for Decentralized Services. Developed in collaboration with trust and safety service provider Tremau, IFTAS' DSA Guide is designed to help independent social media service providers navigate these complex regulations and achieve compliance with the new DSA rules without compromising the unique qualities of federated, open social networks.

As of February 17, 2024, all online services and digital platforms that offer services in the European Union are required to be fully compliant with the DSA, which seeks to address illegal content online, empower users to report content and contest platforms' decisions, and ensure transparency and consistency in the content moderation space. For administrators of platforms like Mastodon, PeerTube, and Pixelfed, IFTAS' DSA Guide can help demystify the DSA's requirements and offer practical advice on achieving compliance for the over 27,000 independent operators of these and other decentralized social media services who otherwise may not be able to obtain the guidance and advice that larger operations can afford to invest in.

"The DSA is an important law covering all online intermediaries involved in providing access to, hosting, and transmitting content created by users. IFTAS' DSA Guide is an invaluable tool and vital resource for Fediverse administrators as they look to ensure compliance with the DSA's complex regulations," said Havona Madama, president of IFTAS' Board of Directors.

"The Digital Services Act receives most of its publicity in relation to the largest tech platforms. However, it applies to a whole host of online players, including decentralized services. It was an absolute pleasure to work with IFTAS to give ActivityPub instances a map to navigate the complexity of the DSA, and provide clear and operational recommendations applicable to the specific ecosystem of the Fediverse experience," said Agne Kaarlep, Head of Policy & Advisory at Tremau.

"IFTAS responds to needs assessments from the community, and assistance with regulatory compliance is consistently one of the highest-ranked requests. With the introduction of The DSA Guide, IFTAS and Tremau are closing a significant gap for Fediverse providers. By empowering small and micro federated online platforms with the tools they need to more easily navigate critical and complex regulations, we are one step further in creating better social media for all," said Jaz-Michael King, executive director, IFTAS. "This is the first of many key initiatives for IFTAS as we continue to fulfill our mission to foster a safer, more inclusive open social web."

The IFTAS DSA Guide for Decentralized Services can be downloaded here.

About IFTAS

Independent Federated Trust & Safety (IFTAS) is a charitable nonprofit committed to fostering a safer, more inclusive open social web by empowering volunteer moderators with the tools, resources, and support necessary to navigate the complexities of digital content moderation. If you'd like to learn more, visit about.iftas.org

About Tremau

Tremau is a leading T&S service provider helping platforms enhance their moderation processes while complying seamlessly in a fast-changing regulatory environment. For more information, visit https://tremau.com/

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Media Contact

Jaz-Michael King, IFTAS, 1 914-200-4430, [email protected], https://about.iftas.org/

Carol Hickins, PR for IFTAS, 1 914-200-4435, [email protected], https://about.iftas.org/

SOURCE IFTAS