We advised one of Europe’s leading and fastest-growing data scraping technology companies on compliance issues related to the EU Digital Services Act (DSA). The work focused on helping the client understand and navigate the new rules affecting online intermediaries and data-based service providers.
The client runs a fast-growing business built on large-scale web data extraction and aggregation. Their services offer real-time insights, public data structuring, and competitive intelligence to clients across various industries. With the DSA bringing in new rules for digital platforms, the client needed to understand whether and how these rules applied to their business.
We acted as the client’s external legal partner, helping them interpret the new rules and build a practical, forward-looking compliance strategy. We helped the client answer a range of complex, forward-looking legal questions, including:
- Figuring out their role under the DSA (e.g. hosting service, platform, or conduit)
- Understanding what is required around transparency, handling takedown notices, and clear terms of service
- Assessing risk-based compliance duties and whether they could eventually be classified as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP)
- Looking at how the DSA overlaps with GDPR, especially where scraped data might be personal data
- Preparing internal documentation and advising on whether DSA-specific roles – like compliance officers or legal points of contact – were needed
This project tackled some of the first legal questions around how the DSA applies to web-scraping tech – an area that raises issues around transparency, public data use, and platform responsibilities. Our input helped the client stay ahead of regulatory changes and prepare their services for long-term compliance in a shifting digital environment.
As a result of our advisory, the client built a proactive, future-proof compliance plan aligned with the DSA, while continuing to scale their business across Europe. The work helped position them as a responsible and transparent tech provider, prepared for regulatory oversight and long-term success in the digital space.
