Mozilla Corporation's CEO Mitchell Baker has advised the European Union to make online platforms accountable for practices and processes that can amplify illegal and harmful content, and ensure that they do not amplify such content through their business practices. She wrote an open letter to Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission (EU), as part of the public consultation on the Digital Services Act (DSA) package. The DSA package is an attempt by the EU to modernise the legal framework surrounding digital services in its jurisdiction. It proposes rules that will decide the responsibilities and legal obligations of digital services. The consultation will end on September 8. Baker remarked that internet today was not "what it should be". She told the EC that it had a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity to put in place solutions that could address the problems at hand. "With the DSA, the European Commission has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address the systemic challenges holding back the internet from what it should be." Make companies accountable for practices that amplify harmful content: Baker said that the internet was no longer an empowering outlet for free expression. She blamed this on business practices which amplified illegal and harmful content. "Any regulation needs to encourage comprehensive content responsibility, meaning companies are accountable for ensuring their practices don't give undue amplification to harmful and illegal content," she said. Baker indicated that while the companies should not themselves be held liable for illegal or harmful content, they should be for any…
