ChatGPT, Roblox and Reddit Face EU’s Strictest Online Rules Under Digital Services Act

Brussels: The European Commission has brought ChatGPT, Roblox and Reddit under the European Union’s strictest online platform regulations, expanding oversight of three major digital services under the Digital Services Act (DSA).

The Commission has classified ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Search Engine (VLOSE), while Roblox and Reddit have been designated Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs).

The classifications give EU authorities greater powers to examine how the platforms operate and whether they are meeting the bloc’s extensive requirements for large online services.

The companies must comply with the additional obligations by the end of November 2026.

Why ChatGPT Comes Under the DSA

The decision involving ChatGPT is linked specifically to its web search functionality.

The European Commission considers ChatGPT a hybrid service because its search feature can respond to users' queries by retrieving information from the internet. That means the search component falls within the DSA's definition of an online search engine.

ChatGPT crossed the EU's legal threshold of 45 million average monthly users required for the stricter designation.

OpenAI reported approximately 159.1 million users in the European Union during the six-month period ending in March 2026.

The VLOSE classification places ChatGPT in a regulatory category that already includes major search services such as Google and Microsoft Bing.

Roblox Faces Greater Scrutiny Over Child Safety

Gaming platform Roblox has also been designated a VLOP after reporting approximately 48 million monthly EU users at the end of February.

The classification is particularly significant because Roblox has a large child and teenage user base.

The platform has already faced regulatory scrutiny in the Netherlands, where authorities began examining child-safety concerns earlier this year.

Under the stricter DSA framework, Roblox will have additional responsibilities to identify and reduce risks affecting younger users and other potentially vulnerable groups.

Reddit Added to the VLOP List

Reddit has also crossed the threshold for the EU's largest-platform category.

The Commission describes Reddit as a discussion-oriented platform where users create, share and interact with content through topic-based communities.

Reddit reported around 57.2 million EU users as of July 2026, based on its average usage over a six-month period.

Its new status means the company will face additional requirements covering areas such as platform transparency, systemic risks and safeguards for users.

What the New Rules Mean

The DSA imposes stronger obligations on the largest digital platforms than on smaller online services.

Among other requirements, VLOPs and VLOSEs must evaluate and address systemic risks associated with their services. These include potential threats to children and other vulnerable users, as well as risks that could affect democratic processes.

The European Commission can also investigate whether designated platforms are complying with the legislation.

For general DSA enforcement, Roblox is overseen by the Netherlands' Digital Services Coordinator, while Ireland's coordinator handles matters involving ChatGPT and Reddit.

However, the European Commission has additional powers concerning the obligations specifically imposed on VLOPs and VLOSEs.

Companies Face Heavy Fines

The financial consequences of serious violations can be substantial.

Under the DSA, the EU can impose penalties of up to 6% of a company's worldwide annual turnover for certain breaches involving VLOPs and VLOSEs.

The Commission has already demonstrated its willingness to use the enforcement powers provided by the legislation. Chinese e-commerce platform AliExpress was recently fined €550 million over violations relating to illegal and unsafe products.

The inclusion of ChatGPT, Roblox and Reddit therefore marks another significant expansion of Europe's regulatory oversight of major digital platforms.

For OpenAI, Roblox and Reddit, the coming months will involve adapting their systems and processes to meet the EU's enhanced requirements before the November 2026 compliance deadline.