The European Commission has designated ChatGPT as a “Very Large Online Search Engine” and Reddit and Roblox as “Very Large Online Platforms,” subjecting all three services to the most stringent enforcement tier under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA).
Why These Platforms Were Designated
The three platforms each crossed the threshold of at least 45 million average monthly users in the European Union, the trigger point under the DSA for the “very large” designation. That classification carries the strictest compliance requirements in the regulation, and the companies now have four months to comply.
“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, the European Commission’s executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy.
What Changes for the Three Platforms
The “very large” designation triggers stricter enforcement of how these platforms and their algorithmic systems can spread illegal content, affect minors, and influence electoral processes. Practically, it means:
- Closer EC supervision for DSA compliance
- Mandatory data sharing with the European Commission and national authorities
- Annual independent audits of platform practices
- Required researcher access to platform data in certain circumstances
Part of a Growing List
With this addition, the European Commission now designates 28 services as very large online platforms or search engines under the DSA. WhatsApp received the same designation earlier this year, joining Facebook and Instagram, which had already been classified under the strictest tier.
Why It Matters
For OpenAI, this marks one of the most significant regulatory milestones for ChatGPT to date, formally placing it in the same compliance category as major search engines like Google under EU law, rather than treating it as a standard software product. For Reddit and Roblox, the designation brings new obligations specifically tied to content moderation and, in Roblox’s case, ongoing scrutiny over child safety, an area the platform has already faced state-level legal action over. For users in the EU, the practical effect should be greater transparency into how these platforms’ recommendation and ranking systems work, and stronger avenues for researchers and regulators to scrutinize them.
What Happens Next
ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox now have four months to bring their operations into compliance with the DSA’s strictest requirements. Engadget reached out to OpenAI, Reddit, and Roblox for comment on the designation; none of the three companies had issued a public statement at the time of the Commission’s announcement.
For continuing coverage of EU tech regulation and platform compliance requirements, keep following Tech News Reports for ongoing updates.
