The European Union has designated ChatGPT, Reddit and gaming platform Roblox as “very large” online platforms, subjecting them to stricter oversight and additional obligations under the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA).
EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen said the three platforms would face a higher level of scrutiny and accountability because of their significant impact on EU citizens and society.
The “very large” classification applies to online platforms and search engines with more than 45 million monthly active users across the 27-member bloc. The European Commission said ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox had met the threshold.
The platforms have four months to comply with the additional requirements under the DSA, which seeks to strengthen regulation of major technology companies and address risks associated with online services.
Under the new requirements, the platforms must assess and mitigate risks linked to the spread of illegal content, potential harm to minors, users’ physical and mental wellbeing, fundamental rights, electoral processes and public security.
The European Commission has classified ChatGPT as a search engine to bring the AI chatbot within the scope of the DSA’s regulatory framework.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT reported more than 159 million users in the EU at the end of March, accounting for more than one-third of the bloc’s population.
The company said it was preparing to meet the additional compliance requirements resulting from the designation.
Roblox said it was proud to become the first gaming platform to receive the “very large” classification in the EU. The platform reported 46.6 million active players in the bloc, slightly above the regulatory threshold.
Reddit, meanwhile, has more than 57 million users in the EU, according to the European Commission.
The latest designations come as the EU intensifies enforcement of its digital regulations, including against some of the world’s largest technology companies.
The bloc has also introduced the AI Act, described as one of the world’s most comprehensive regulatory frameworks for artificial intelligence. The legislation came into force in 2024, with different obligations being introduced over several years to address potentially harmful uses of AI.
Lena-Maria Boswald of German technology think tank Interface said the designation of ChatGPT could set a precedent for regulatory expectations surrounding other large generative AI systems operating in the EU.
She said OpenAI was already subject to risk-management requirements under the AI Act, while the DSA could expand the scope of its regulatory obligations.
Around 30 online services have been designated for additional scrutiny under the DSA. The list includes major platforms operated by companies such as Google, Apple, Microsoft, TikTok, X, Amazon and Shein, as well as Wikipedia and several adult-content websites.
