On 29 October 2025, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/2050 entered into force, supplementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Digital Services Act) by laying down the technical conditions and procedures under which providers of very large online platforms and of very large online search engines are to share data with vetted researchers.

Pursuant to Article 40 of the Digital Services Act, providers of very large online platforms or of very large online search engines shall provide the Digital Services Coordinator of establishment or the Commission access to data that are necessary to monitor and assess compliance with the DSA. With the entry into force of the new Delegated Regulation, vetted researchers can apply for access to non-public data for the purpose of investigating systemic risks online (e.g. protecting children from harmful content, online fraud, etc.).

Applying for vetted researcher status

Applications shall be submitted via the DSA Data Access Portal of the European Commission - a single, centralized point of submitting applications. Researchers interested in obtaining the status of “vetted researcher” must register on the portal and fill in a form.

For questions or additional information, you can contact CRC at the following address: dsa@crc.bg

The European Commission has created a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section and a set of resources Tips & tricks to assist researchers in navigating and completing their applications.