A new joint study by the DSA Civil Society Coordination Group (CSCG), the Recommender Systems Taskforce, and People vs Big Tech have criticised the first set of risk assessment reports required under the Digital Services Act (DSA) by designated Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) and Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs).
The study argues that the reports fail to adequately address the actual harms and negative effects of platform operations concerning mental health. As such, the study reveals the reports do not sufficiently focus on risks arising from platform design, especially recommender systems. These systems, driven by engagement metrics, can amplify harmful content and contribute to issues like mental health problems and political polarisation. Instead of prioritising content moderation, they focus on design choices intended to increase user engagement, which can be a primary cause of harm. The study concludes that aspects need more thorough examination in future risk assessments.
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