ChatGPT will face tougher safety obligations after the European Union added it to a list of digital services subject to increased regulatory scrutiny, marking the first time an AI chatbot has received this designation.
The European Commission also classified Reddit and the gaming platform Roblox as “very large” online platforms, a status that brings additional responsibilities and closer oversight under EU law.
“ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox will now be held to a higher standard of scrutiny and accountability in the European Union, reflecting their significant impact on citizens and society,” EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen said.
The “very large” category applies to online platforms and search engines with more than 45 million monthly active users in the EU’s 27 member states. The Commission said all three services reported reaching that threshold.
They will now have four months to meet additional requirements under the Digital Services Act (DSA), the EU’s major legislation aimed at regulating online platforms and limiting harmful digital content.
The new obligations require companies to assess and reduce risks linked to illegal content, harm to minors, threats to users’ physical and mental well-being, violations of fundamental rights, risks to elections, and threats to public security.
To bring ChatGPT under the DSA framework, the European Commission classified it as a search engine.
OpenAI prepares for new requirements
The AI chatbot, developed by US-based OpenAI, reported more than 159 million users in the EU by the end of March, representing more than one-third of the bloc’s population.
OpenAI said it was preparing to meet the additional compliance requirements introduced by the designation. Roblox welcomed the decision, saying it was “proud to be the first gaming platform” to receive the “very large” label in the EU.
“Safety is foundational to everything we do, and we look forward to continuing our constructive engagement with the European Commission,” said Joost Hagesteijn, Roblox’s general manager for Europe.
Roblox, which is especially popular among children due to its interactive worlds and colourful graphics, reported 46.6 million active players in the EU—slightly above the DSA threshold.
Reddit, the US-based discussion platform, reported more than 57 million users across the bloc.
Growing EU pressure on big tech
The new designations come as the EU increases enforcement of digital regulations against some of the world’s largest technology companies, including major US firms, despite criticism and threats of retaliation from Washington.
The EU has also introduced the AI Act, the world’s most comprehensive set of rules governing artificial intelligence. The law came into force in 2024, with different requirements being introduced gradually to address potentially harmful uses of AI.
Lena-Maria Boswald from German technology think tank Interface said ChatGPT’s classification could set an important precedent for other large generative AI systems operating in Europe.
“OpenAI already has risk-management obligations under the AI Act, but the DSA could expand the scope of those responsibilities,” she said.
Around 30 services have already been designated for additional monitoring under the DSA. The list includes major platforms operated by companies such as Google, Apple, Microsoft, TikTok, X, Amazon and Shein, as well as several adult-content websites and the online encyclopedia Wikipedia.
Heavy penalties for violations
Companies that violate the DSA can face severe penalties, including fines of up to 6 percent of their annual global revenue. In cases involving serious and repeated breaches, companies could even be restricted from operating in the European market.
The EU has previously ordered TikTok to address concerns over its potentially addictive design or face significant penalties.
So far, three companies have received fines under the DSA: online marketplaces Temu and AliExpress, and Elon Musk’s social media platform X. X was fined €120 million ($138 million) for transparency and other regulatory violations.
