Online platforms and digital intermediaries operating in Montenegro face a new compliance layer as parliament considers legislation implementing the EU’s Digital Services Act, potentially expanding demand for legal, moderation and regulatory technology services.
The proposal entered parliamentary procedure on Sept. 14, with additional government material submitted a day later.
The framework would bring Montenegro closer to EU rules governing intermediary services, including requirements around illegal-content notices, transparency and platform accountability.
For companies, the shift is operational rather than simply legal.
Marketplaces, hosting companies and other covered digital services will increasingly need documented procedures for complaints, regulatory requests and platform decisions.
That creates demand for trust-and-safety systems, compliance software, legal advice, content-moderation tools and regulatory reporting.
Smaller domestic platforms could face proportionately higher costs because many lack dedicated compliance teams.
Large international providers already operating under EU Digital Services Act requirements should have more of the necessary infrastructure in place, potentially widening the compliance gap between multinational and local operators.
The rules could also affect Montenegro’s e-commerce market by requiring more reliable information about traders and products sold through online marketplaces.
Montenegro’s digital economy has developed faster than its dedicated regulatory infrastructure.
The proposed legislation begins closing that gap and turns platform compliance into a recurring operating cost rather than an occasional legal issue.
