The Czech Telecommunications Authority (CTU) has been designated as the national coordinator for digital services, following the approval of this concept by the Czech government. The move seeks to establish a cohesive framework for overseeing new European regulations and enhancing legal certainty within the digital services market. The CTU, which already holds competencies in specific areas of digital services, will see its scope expand to encompass the supervision of regulations pertaining to digital services, data management, and data regulation.

Marek Vosahlik, spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Trade, highlighted the CTU’s role in ensuring unified oversight of European digital regulations, contributing to a more streamlined and harmonized approach within the digital landscape. As the designated digital coordinator under the Digital Services Act (DSA), the CTU is poised to grant special statuses, such as trusted notifiers or authorized researchers, enabling in-depth examinations of digital platform algorithms for eligible parties meeting legal prerequisites.

Vosahlik emphasized that, except for specific partial aspects related to personal data protection, no existing authority within the Czech Republic holds the mandate for overseeing the digital or data economy comprehensively.

Marek Ebert, Chairman of the CTU Board, affirmed the authority’s proactive stance in preparing for its role as the digital services coordinator. He elaborated, “Our goal will be to systematically map the Czech market of intermediary service providers and engage in active discussions with them in the first step.”

In its initial phase, the CTU intends to prioritize educational initiatives, with plans for a dialogue between sector representatives aimed at optimizing supervision approaches.

The Digital Services Act (DSA), introduced by the European Commission in 2019 alongside the revised Network and Information Systems Security Directive (NIS2) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), heralds a transformative regulatory landscape for the digital realm. The DSA is anticipated to impose stricter regulations on online advertising and enhance accountability for removing illegal and misleading content from online platforms. The emergence of new digital regulations will also introduce novel obligations within human resources and information technology.

The CTU’s appointment as the national coordinator for digital services signifies a pivotal step toward establishing effective oversight and regulatory coherence in an increasingly complex digital ecosystem, further aligning the Czech Republic with evolving European standards.

Article by Prague Forum