The European Union has designated OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox as "very large" online platforms under the Digital Services Act (DSA), according to reporting by The Verge. This classification subjects the services to strengthened regulatory requirements within the EU.
Practical consequences of the designation
Under the DSA, very large platforms face increased obligations related to their impact on minors, users’ mental health, and the handling of illegal content. Among the specific rules are requirements that platforms:
- must not target advertisements at minor users;
- must not use sensitive personal attributes—such as sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, or political beliefs—for ad targeting;
- must provide greater transparency about how their recommender algorithms operate.
These measures aim to reduce risks to vulnerable groups and make content recommendation and distribution more transparent.
Thresholds and deadlines
A platform is classed as "very large" under the DSA if it reaches at least 45 million monthly users within the EU. The Verge notes that ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox must comply with the new obligations by the end of December 2026.
Why this matters
The designation increases the legal and regulatory responsibilities of the named services in Europe, particularly around protecting young users, addressing illegal or harmful content, and disclosing algorithmic decision-making. The move is likely to affect operational and business practices for the companies involved on the EU market.
