The European Centre for Algorithmic Transparency (ECAT), which has officially been opened in Seville, is expected to play a major role in checking the algorithms of mainstream digital services -- such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

ECAT is embedded within the EU's existing Joint Research Centre (JRC), a long-established science facility that conducts research supporting a broad range of EU policymaking, from climate change and crisis management to taxation and health sciences.

ECAT is embedded within the JRC and helps lawmakers to gather evidence to build cases so they can act on any platforms that don't take their obligations seriously.

Commission officials say that ECAT will identify "smoking guns" to drive enforcement of the DSA and help the Commission build cases for breaches of the new digital rulebook.