Online safety & content laws in Croatia (2026)
Online safety rules in Croatia: comprehensive law.
Croatia is governed by the EU's Digital Services Act as the primary comprehensive online-safety and content-moderation regime, supplemented by a national DSA Implementation Law that entered into force on 17 April 2025 and designates HAKOM as the Digital Services Coordinator. However, the European Commission has issued two letters of formal notice (2024 and April 2026) citing Croatia's failure to fully empower HAKOM with the sanctioning powers required under the DSA. Children's online safety is addressed through DSA obligations, the Safer Internet Centre Croatia, and a draft National Programme for Children in the Digital Environment 2024-2026.
Legal framework
EU Digital Services Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/2065), directly applicable; Croatia's national Law on the Implementation of the DSA (in force 17 April 2025); Digital Services Coordinator: HAKOM (Hrvatska regulatorna agencija za mrežne djelatnosti)
The Digital Services Act in Croatia
In Croatia, online platforms and intermediaries are governed by the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), a directly-applicable regulation covering illegal content, transparency and user protection.
- Framework
- the EU Digital Services Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/2065)
- Approach
- notice-and-action on illegal content, transparency reporting, clear terms, and protection of minors
- Applies to
- online intermediaries, hosting services and platforms offering services to users in Croatia, wherever established
- Very large platforms
- platforms and search engines with 45M+ EU users face extra systemic-risk audits, overseen by the European Commission
- Maximum fine
- up to 6% of global annual turnover
- Oversight
- the national Digital Services Coordinator, plus the European Commission for very large platforms
The DSA is an EU regulation applied directly in Croatia; the national Digital Services Coordinator handles day-to-day supervision.
Key points: internet & online safety in Croatia
DSA as primary law
The EU Digital Services Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/2065) is directly applicable in Croatia and constitutes the principal comprehensive online-safety and content-moderation framework, covering intermediaries, online platforms, and very large online platforms (VLOPs) with 45 million+ EU users.
National DSA Implementation Law (April 2025)
Croatia enacted its national DSA Implementation Law, which entered into force on 17 April 2025. It designates HAKOM as the Digital Services Coordinator, establishes complaint mechanisms for users against intermediary service providers, and sets national fines of €6,630, €66,360 or up to 6% of global annual turnover.
HAKOM as Digital Services Coordinator
HAKOM (Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries) has been the designated DSC since February 2024. It holds investigative powers, coordinates among national competent authorities, manages the trusted-reporter framework, and publishes annual DSC activity reports as required by Article 55 of the DSA.
EU Commission enforcement proceedings
The European Commission sent Croatia a first letter of formal notice in 2024 and a second in April 2026, finding that the national DSA Implementation Law does not fully empower HAKOM to impose the maximum penalties, meet proportionality requirements, or sanction individuals for non-cooperation, constituting an ongoing infringement of the DSA.
Age verification, EU-led approach
Croatia has no standalone national age-verification law; it relies on the EU's harmonised approach. The European Commission published an age-verification blueprint (July 2025), with a feature-ready solution available from April 2026, designed to be interoperable with EU Digital Identity Wallets. Croatian awareness campaigns aligned with DSA obligations are being conducted by the Safer Internet Centre.
digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu better-internet-for-kids.europa.eu
Children's online safety measures
Croatia's BIK 2025 country profile notes children's online protection as an emerging priority, partially addressed in national law and implemented through the Safer Internet Centre Croatia and the UNICEF/Agency for Electronic Media 'Media Literacy Days' project. A National Programme for Children in the Digital Environment 2024-2026 exists but had not been formally adopted as of the 2025 profile. All three major telecoms signed a Code for the Protection and Promotion of Children's Rights in the Digital Environment.
The Digital Services Act in Croatia: FAQ
Does the Digital Services Act apply in Croatia?
Yes. As an EU member, Croatia is covered by the EU Digital Services Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/2065), which applies directly.
What does the DSA require of platforms in Croatia?
Notice-and-action mechanisms for illegal content, transparency reporting, clear terms of service, and measures to protect minors.
Who enforces the DSA in Croatia?
The national Digital Services Coordinator, with the European Commission supervising very large online platforms and search engines.
What are the penalties under the DSA in Croatia?
Up to 6% of a provider's global annual turnover for serious breaches.
Timeline of decisions
- Enforcement · officialEuropean Commission sends additional infringement letter to Croatia on DSA non-compliance
After Croatia adopted a DSA implementation law in April 2025, the Commission issued a second formal notice under INFR(2024)2166, finding Croatia still fails to give HAKOM genuine sanctioning power, does not honour the 6% / 5% DSA penalty caps, and cannot fine individuals for obstruction of inspections — Croatia was given two months to respond before a reasoned opinion.
European Commission – Shaping Europe's Digital Future
- Law · officialDSA Implementation Law enters into force; HAKOM designated Digital Services Coordinator
Croatia's Law on the Implementation of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 (the Digital Services Act) entered into force, appointing HAKOM as the national Digital Services Coordinator responsible for coordinating complaints, overseeing intermediary platforms, and cooperating with the European Board for Digital Services.
HAKOM – Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries
- LawElectronic Commerce Act enacted (Official Gazette No. 173/03)
Croatia's foundational e-commerce law transposed the EU Electronic Commerce Directive (2000/31/EC), establishing the country-of-origin principle for information society services, liability safe harbours for caching, hosting and mere-conduit intermediaries, and pre-contractual transparency obligations — a framework amended multiple times and partly superseded by the 2025 DSA implementation law.
CMS Expert Guide – Croatia
Sources
- digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/digital-services-act
- digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/dsa-dscs
- digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/commission-asks-croatia-comply-digital-services-act-and-empow
- schoenherr.eu/content/croatia-implements-eu-digital-services-act
- ceelegalmatters.com/by-practice/29414-croatia-implements-eu-digital-services-act
- crowe.com/hr/en-us/news/novi-zakon-o-provedbi-akta-o-digitalnim-uslugama
- hakom.hr/UserDocsImages/2025/dokumenti/DSC%20CROATIA%20Annual%20Activity%20Rep
- dig.watch/updates/croatia-european-commission-digital-services-act
- digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/eu-age-verification
- better-internet-for-kids.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2025-05/HR%20Country%20Profile%202025_final.pdf
- unicef.org/croatia/en/node/4761
- better-internet-for-kids.europa.eu/en/news/raising-awareness-digital-services-act-croatia
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Next topicOrientation, not legal advice: verify against the primary sources linked above. Last verified 24 May 2026. Methodology & how to cite · State of Technology Regulation 2026