NAIROBI, Kenya – ChatGPT has become the first AI chatbot to be placed under the European Union’s tougher digital-platform rules after Brussels designated the service a “very large” online platform, bringing additional scrutiny and legal obligations.
The European Commission announced the designation on Monday, adding ChatGPT alongside Reddit and Roblox to the list of digital services subject to enhanced oversight under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen said the designation would require the platforms to meet higher standards of accountability because of their growing influence on European users and society.
“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,” Virkkunen said.
ChatGPT crosses 45 million-user threshold
The EU’s “very large” designation applies to online platforms and search engines with more than 45 million monthly active users in the European Union.
The European Commission said ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox had reported reaching the threshold in the 27-member bloc.
The designation gives the three services four months to comply with additional requirements under the DSA.
The legislation is one of the EU’s main tools for regulating large digital platforms and addressing risks arising from their content, algorithms and business models.
New safety obligations for ChatGPT
Under the DSA, ChatGPT will be required to assess and mitigate systemic risks associated with its service and algorithmic systems.
These risks include the spread of illegal content, potential harm to minors, effects on users’ physical and mental well-being, fundamental rights, electoral processes and public security.
The Commission classified ChatGPT as a search engine for the purposes of bringing the service within the DSA’s regulatory framework.
The move expands the regulatory scrutiny facing OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT.
OpenAI is already subject to obligations under the EU’s AI Act, which establishes rules for artificial intelligence systems operating in the bloc.
EU move sets precedent for generative AI
The decision could have implications beyond ChatGPT as regulators establish how large generative AI services should be treated under existing digital laws.
Lena-Maria Boswald of German technology think tank Interface said ahead of the announcement that the designation could set a precedent and influence regulatory expectations for other large generative AI systems used in the European Union.
OpenAI already faces risk-management requirements under the AI Act, but the DSA could broaden the areas in which the company must assess and address potential risks.
The additional obligations could therefore increase pressure on major AI companies to demonstrate how their systems manage issues involving misinformation, illegal content, children’s safety, elections and other societal risks.
Reddit and Roblox also face enhanced oversight
The European Commission also designated Reddit and Roblox as very large online platforms.
Roblox allows users to create, play and share games, while Reddit operates as a large online discussion and community platform.
The designation means both companies will face additional obligations under the DSA, including requirements related to systemic-risk assessment and mitigation.
The platforms will also come under greater scrutiny from European regulators.
EU intensifies Big Tech enforcement
The latest designations come as the European Union continues to strengthen enforcement of its digital regulations against some of the world’s largest technology companies.
The bloc has faced criticism and pushback from the United States over its regulation of predominantly American technology firms.
The EU has nevertheless continued to enforce the DSA against major platforms.
It recently ordered TikTok to address what regulators described as potentially addictive design features, warning of possible penalties for non-compliance.
In 2025, the European Commission also fined Elon Musk’s social media platform X €120 million over transparency-related breaches and other violations.
