EU Places ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox Under Tougher Digital Rules

BRUSSELS — The European Union has placed ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox under its highest level of digital-platform scrutiny, bringing the services under additional obligations designed to address systemic risks, protect users and strengthen accountability online.

The European Commission announced on Monday, August 31, 2026, that it had designated ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Search Engine (VLOSE) and Reddit and Roblox as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA).

The designation follows declarations by the three services that they reach at least 45 million average monthly users in the European Union, the threshold for classification as a very large online service under the DSA.

Four-Month Compliance Period

Following the designations, ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox will have four months to meet the additional obligations imposed on very large online platforms and search engines.

The European Commission said the services must assess and mitigate systemic risks arising from their services and algorithmic systems. These risks include the dissemination of illegal content, potential negative effects on minors, users’ physical and mental well-being, fundamental rights, electoral processes and public security.

The compliance period is expected to run until the end of December 2026.

EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen said the new designations would subject the three services to higher standards of oversight and accountability, reflecting their growing impact on European citizens and society.

ChatGPT Classified as an Online Search Engine

The decision is particularly significant for ChatGPT because the European Commission has classified the AI service as a Very Large Online Search Engine, bringing it into the DSA's enhanced regulatory framework.

The classification reflects the increasingly broad role of AI systems in how people obtain information and interact with digital content.

The move also establishes an important regulatory precedent for large generative AI services operating in Europe. ChatGPT is already subject to obligations under the EU's separate Artificial Intelligence Act, meaning the latest designation adds another layer of regulatory oversight.

Reddit and Roblox Also Face Greater Scrutiny

Reddit, the large online discussion platform, and Roblox, the gaming and user-generated-content platform, have also crossed the EU's threshold for enhanced oversight.

Roblox allows users to create, publish and play games produced by other users, while Reddit hosts large communities where users publish and discuss content. Their ability to facilitate the distribution of user-generated material places them within the scope of the DSA's platform rules.

The Commission said the three services were already subject to general obligations under the DSA, but their new classification brings additional requirements and direct scrutiny.

EU Tightens Oversight of Big Tech

The latest designations form part of the European Union's broader effort to increase accountability among the world's largest digital services.

The DSA gives European regulators greater powers to scrutinise systemic risks associated with major online platforms, including issues involving illegal content, user safety, transparency and the impact of digital services on democratic processes.

The Commission has now designated 28 very large online platforms and search engines under the DSA framework.

The EU has previously taken enforcement action against major technology companies, demonstrating its willingness to impose significant regulatory pressure on platforms it believes are failing to meet the bloc's digital rules.

What the Decision Means for Users

For users in the European Union, the new designations are likely to result in greater scrutiny of how major digital services operate, particularly in areas involving recommendation systems, user safety, minors, illegal content and the broader societal effects of digital platforms.

For the technology industry, the decision signals that the EU intends to apply its digital rules not only to traditional social-media companies and search engines, but also to rapidly growing AI-powered services.

The designation of ChatGPT is therefore likely to attract particular attention as regulators around the world continue to determine how artificial intelligence should be governed.

The European Commission says it will continue monitoring the digital environment and can designate additional services for enhanced oversight if they meet the required threshold under the Digital Services Act.