Digital Services Act Penalties & Enforcement
The DSA imposes severe financial penalties for non-compliance, with fines reaching up to 6% of global annual turnover. Understanding the penalty framework is crucial for platform operators to avoid devastating financial consequences.
DSA Penalties in Plain English
The DSA can impose devastating financial penalties up to 6% of your company's worldwide revenue. For major platforms, this means potential fines in the billions. Even smaller companies face minimum penalties of €18 million.
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Understand Your Penalty Exposure
Different violation types carry different penalty levels and enforcement mechanisms
Your 2-Step Path to DSA Penalties Compliance
Follow these steps to achieve full compliance. Each step builds on the previous one, creating a comprehensive compliance program.
1. Assess Your Penalty Exposure
Calculate potential fines based on your revenue and violation types
Key Actions
- Calculate 6% of your global annual turnover
- Identify which DSA obligations apply to your service
- Map violation types to penalty categories
- Assess current compliance gaps and risks
Available Tools
Real Examples
2. Prepare for Enforcement
Understand investigation procedures and response requirements
Key Actions
- Establish legal compliance team
- Create enforcement response procedures
- Prepare documentation and evidence systems
- Train staff on investigation cooperation
Available Tools
Real Examples
What DSA Penalties Actually Requires You to Do
Maximum Penalties
Up to 6% of worldwide annual turnover
- • €18 million minimum fine
- • Calculated on global revenue
- • Applied per violation type
- • Compound penalties possible
Enforcement Powers
Commission's authority to investigate and penalize
- • Information requests
- • On-site inspections
- • Interim measures
- • Service suspension orders
Personal Liability
Individual accountability for company executives
- • Director criminal liability
- • Personal asset seizure
- • Professional disqualification
- • Cross-border enforcement
DSA Penalty Structure
Systemic Risk Violations
Information Violations
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Free DSA Penalties Compliance Tools
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Common DSA Penalties Questions
How are DSA penalties calculated?
Penalties are the higher of a fixed amount or percentage of global turnover:
- Systemic risk violations: €18M or 6% of worldwide annual turnover
- Information violations: €9M or 1% of worldwide annual turnover
- Calculated on total global revenue, not just EU operations
- Multiple violations can result in separate penalty proceedings
Can individuals be held personally liable?
Yes, the DSA includes provisions for personal accountability:
- Company directors can face criminal liability
- Personal assets may be subject to seizure
- Professional disqualification from holding director positions
- Cross-border enforcement through EU judicial cooperation
What enforcement powers does the Commission have?
The European Commission has extensive investigative and enforcement powers:
- Request any information and documentation
- Conduct on-site inspections without prior notice
- Interview staff and access all business records
- Impose interim measures during investigations
- Order immediate cessation of violations
- Suspend or ban services from EU market
Are there repeat offense penalties?
The DSA includes escalating penalties for continued non-compliance:
- Periodic penalty payments until compliance achieved
- Increased fine percentages for repeat violations
- Structural remedies including business divestiture
- Permanent market access prohibition
Don't Risk Devastating DSA Penalties
With fines up to 6% of global turnover, DSA non-compliance can destroy your business. Get expert guidance now.