ChatGPT will soon face tougher oversight in the European Union, where OpenAI must take responsibility for reducing risks tied to the chatbot’s effect on minors, user mental health, and the circulation of illegal content. The shift follows a new classification: ChatGPT is now treated as a Very Large Online Search Engine under the EU’s Digital Services Act, the framework that governs major online services and platforms.
New Designations for ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox
The European Commission also named Reddit and Roblox as Very Large Online Platforms, placing them under the same set of obligations. Under the DSA, a service earns the “Very Large” label once it reaches at least 45 million average monthly users in the EU. That threshold triggers a higher tier of legal duties designed to match the scale of a platform’s reach.
All three companies have until the end of December 2026 to bring their services into compliance with the rules.
What the DSA Requires
The regulation places clear limits on how platforms can operate. Services covered by the law are barred from targeting advertising to minors and cannot use a person’s sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, or political beliefs to serve ads. The DSA also demands greater transparency, requiring companies to explain how their recommendation algorithms function.
For OpenAI, the designation means ChatGPT must now be managed with these accountability standards in mind, particularly around protecting younger users and limiting the spread of illegal material. Reddit and Roblox face parallel responsibilities as newly designated platforms.
Higher Scrutiny in the EU
Officials framed the move as a way to align regulatory attention with the influence these services hold. “These new designations mean that ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox will now be held to a higher standard of scrutiny and accountability in the European Union, in line with their large impact on our citizens and society,” said Henna Virkkunen, EU executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy.
The classifications add ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox to the growing list of services operating under the EU’s most stringent digital rules, with a compliance deadline set for the end of December 2026.
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Image: theverge.com
