What are Intermediary Services?

The DSA regulates intermediary services - online services that connect users with content, goods, or services provided by third parties. These services play a crucial role in the digital economy and online information access.

Types of Intermediary Services

1. Mere Conduit Services: Simply transmit information over a network (e.g., ISPs, WiFi providers)

2. Caching Services: Store copies of information temporarily to make transmission more efficient

3. Hosting Services: Store information provided by users (e.g., cloud storage, web hosting)

4. Online Platforms: Host information and also present it to users (e.g., social media, marketplaces, app stores)

5. Online Search Engines: Index and retrieve information from the internet in response to queries

Tiered Obligations

The DSA imposes different levels of obligations depending on the type of service and its size, creating a proportionate regulatory framework.