INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOURISM, TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY LAW Information society services, such as online social networks and online platforms. In the Communication ‘Shaping Europe’s Digital Future’3, the Commission committed to update the horizontal rules that define the responsibilities and obligations of providers of digital services, and online platforms in particular. The European Commission proposed in December 2020 two legislative initiatives to upgrade rules governing digital services in the European Union: the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The Commission made the proposals in December 2020 and on 25 March 2022 a political agreement was reached on the Digital Markets Act, and on 23 April 2022 on the Digital Services Act. The Digital Markets Act was approved as Regulation (EU) 2022/1925 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 September 2022 on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector and amending Directives (EU) 2019/1937 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Digital Markets Act)4, on October 12, 2022. While the Digital Services Act was approved on October 19, 2022, as Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market for Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act)5. Together they form a single set of new rules that will be applicable across the whole EU to create a safer and more open digital space. Digital services include a large category of online services, from simple websites to internet infrastructure services and online platforms. As we can imagine, it is a legislative reform that especially affects the field of tourist services. For example, online marketplaces, social networks, content-sharing platforms, app stores, and online travel and accommodation platforms, such as Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking, Expedia or Tripadvisor. The new legislation has two main goals: 1. to create a safer digital space in which the fundamental rights of all users of digital services are protected; 2. to establish a level playing field to foster innovation, growth, and competitiveness, both in the European Single Market and globally. 3 https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/communication-shaping-europes-digital-future-feb2020_en_4.pdf 4 Official Journal of the European Union L 265, 12.10.2022. 5 Official Journal of the European Union L 277, 27.10.2022.
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