ANCOM organized a webinar today for researchers from Romanian higher education research centers, focusing on the the Delegated Act on Data Access adopted under the Digital Services Act (DSA). ANCOM experts presented the legal framework recently entered into force that enables vetted researchers to request access to non-public data from very large online platforms (VLOPs) and very large online search engines (VLOSEs), for studying systemic risks within the European Union and the risk mitigation measures implemented by these platforms and search engines.
The event organised by ANCOM brought together more than 30 representatives from major university centers in Romania, including the University of Bucharest, the National School of Political and Administrative Studies (SNSPA), the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, the “1 Decembrie 1918” University, the “Babeș-Bolyai” University, the “Transilvania” University, the Polytechnic University of Timisoara, the West University, the Sapientia University or the National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest.
Their participation reflects the strong interest and importance attached to mechanisms for access to the data of very large online platforms and very large online search engines under Article 40 of the Digital Services Regulation.
ANCOM’s role in applying the new rules
The main role in applying the Delegated Act on Data Access lies with the Digital Services Coordinator (DSC) in the country of establishment of the VLOPs or VLOSEs. Most VLOPs and VLOSEs are based in Ireland, where the Digital Services Coordinator is Coimisiún na Meán (CnaM). The DSC in the country of establishment decides whether to grant vetted researcher status to applicants and with regard to the submission of a reasoned request for data access to VLOPs or VLOSEs. As Romania’s DSC, ANCOM supports this process provided for in the Delegated Act, for the access requests submitted to it, by conducting an initial assessment of compliance with all conditions set out in the Digital Services Act (DSA). Subsequently, it forwards the assessment and all supporting documents submitted by the researcher applicants to the DSC in the country of establishment.
This process marks the operationalization of Europe’s first data access mechanism dedicated to independent research on risks associated with the digital environment.
More details on the mechanism for researcher access to VLOP and VLOSE data are available on the ANCOM website.
Delegated Act on Data Access
Adopted under the Digital Services Act (DSA), the Delegated Act on Data Access enables independent analysis of phenomena such as minors’ exposure to harmful content, the spread of disinformation, digital fraud, and risks to users’ mental health. This represents a key step toward creating a safe, predictable, and trustworthy digital environment for all.
Researchers will be able to submit data access requests through the dedicated DSA portal, with requests clearly defining the data required, the processing methodology, guarantees for data protection and users’ rights, and how the legitimate interests of companies is observed. These unprecedented rules are essential for enabling independent research-based oversight of risks associated with online services that shape our daily lives.