- The European Commission designates ChatGPT as a search engine and Reddit and Roblox as very large platforms.
- The three services have over 45 million monthly users in the EU.
- They will have four months to comply with the DSA obligations, including risk assessment and audits.
- The list of services subject to the strict regime amounts to 28.
The European Commission has taken another step in regulating Big Tech by designating ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox as very large digital services. This decision, adopted under the Digital Services Act (DSA), means these three services will be subject to stricter oversight within the European Union. ChatGPT has been classified as a very large online search engine, while Reddit and Roblox are now considered very large online platforms.
The designation stems from the fact that these services exceed the threshold of 45 million monthly users in the EU, a figure roughly equivalent to one-tenth of the bloc's population. With this measure, Brussels expands its list of services subject to the most stringent obligations of the DSA, which already includes giants like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Google. The decision is not merely symbolic: it means these companies will have to comply with a series of additional requirements within four months, by the end of November 2026.
What does this designation entail?
According to the regulations, designated services must assess and mitigate systemic risks stemming from their algorithms and systems. This includes the dissemination of illegal content, negative effects on minors, the physical and mental well-being of users, fundamental rights, electoral processes, and public safety. Furthermore, they will have to undergo independent audits, share data with regulators and accredited researchers, and offer transparency mechanisms regarding their advertising and recommendation systems. They are also prohibited from targeting minors with advertising or advertising based on sensitive data, as well as from using misleading "dark patterns" in their interface design.
Figures and deadlines
According to data reported by the companies themselves, ChatGPT registered an average of 159,1 million monthly active users in the EU during the six months ending in March 2026. Reddit reported 57,2 million and Roblox around 48 million. These figures far exceed the 45 million threshold set by the DSA. The three companies now have four months to adapt to the new obligations, a period that ends at the end of November 2026. The European Commission will monitor compliance in cooperation with the digital services coordinators of Ireland and the Netherlands, where they have their European headquarters. Specifically, ChatGPT and Reddit will be monitored jointly with the Irish Commission na Meán, while Roblox will be monitored by the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM).
Monitoring and sanctions
The DSA has already resulted in multimillion-euro fines . To date, the Commission has imposed sanctions totaling approximately €870 million, including €550 million against AliExpress in July for failing to curb the sale of illegal products, €200 million against Temu in May for similar shortcomings, and €120 million against X in December 2025 for deficiencies in content moderation. Failure to comply with the new obligations can result in fines of up to 6% of a company's global annual revenue . In the case of OpenAI, whose revenue is growing rapidly, this figure could be substantial. Furthermore, the Commission has several ongoing investigations into other platforms, such as Meta, TikTok, and Shein, for potential violations of the regulations.
Reactions and context
This is the first time the Digital Services Act (DSA) has been applied to an AI chatbot and a gaming platform. The decision sets a precedent for other similar services, such as Gemini or Copilot, which could follow suit if they exceed the user threshold. In the United States, the measure has generated unease within the Trump administration, which has already described the fines imposed on Apple and Meta as a "new form of economic extortion" and threatened retaliation against countries whose digital regulations target US tech companies. Brussels, for its part, maintains that its regulations apply regardless of jurisdiction or company ownership, and points out that recent sanctions have targeted AliExpress, Temu, and TikTok, not just US firms.
With these designations, the list of services subject to the strictest level of the DSA rises to 28. ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox will have to demonstrate in the coming months that they are capable of meeting the transparency and security requirements demanded by the EU. Oversight will be close, and any sanctions imposed could be substantial. Meanwhile, the debate on the balance between innovation and the protection of digital rights remains open, and Europe is consolidating its position as the leading regulator of the global digital landscape.
