Alphabet unit Google, Meta Platforms and other large online platforms will have to do more to tackle illegal content or risk hefty fines under new internet rules agreed between European Union countries and EU lawmakers on Saturday.

The agreement came after more than 16 hours of negotiations. The Digital Services Act (DSA) is the second prong of EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager's strategy to rein in Alphabet unit Google, Meta and other US tech giants.

Last month, she won backing from the 27-country bloc and lawmakers for landmark rules called the Digital Markets Act (DMA) that could force Google, Amazon, Apple, Meta and Microsoft to change their core business practices in Europe.

"We have a deal on the DSA: The Digital Services Act will make sure that what is illegal offline is also seen and dealt with as illegal online -- not as a slogan, as reality," Vestager said in a tweet.

Ta da! 16 hours, lots of sweets (but cookies still declined ;) We have a deal on the #DSA: The Digital Services Act will make sure that what is illegal offline is also seen & dealt with as illegal online - not as a slogan, as reality! And always protecting freedom of expression! pic.twitter.com/mUhU84Q9FS

— Margrethe Vestager (@vestager) April 23, 2022

It’s a wrap! We have a deal on the #DSA! Two years after we tabled the proposal