ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox Designated as Very Large Platforms by the EU
nashnova research
The European Commission designated ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox as "very large online platforms" under the Digital Services Act, each reporting 45 million-plus monthly active EU users — a move that pulls AI chatbots and gaming platforms into the EU's toughest regulatory tier.
What does "very large platform" actually mean?
The Digital Services Act (DSA) draws a hard line: any service with 45 million or more monthly active users in the EU is classified as a "very large online platform or search engine."
This means → once a platform crosses that threshold, it faces a full set of additional obligations — risk assessments, algorithm audits, minor-safety measures — far beyond standard compliance.
In plain terms = the bigger your user base, the heavier your regulatory burden. The EU treats scale itself as a risk factor.
How is each platform classified?
The Commission labeled ChatGPT an "online search engine," not an ordinary platform — a critical distinction.
Reddit and Roblox were classified as "online platforms" because they let users distribute third-party content to the public.
This means → regulators now treat an AI chat product as an information gateway, in the same category as Google Search. This reflects a significant expansion of how the EU defines search.
What must they do in four months?
Three core obligations: assess and mitigate the spread of illegal content, reduce harm to minors and users' mental health, and limit threats to elections and public safety.
The Commission also gained supervisory power to investigate each platform's algorithms and content-distribution logic — areas that were largely opaque before.
In plain terms = platform algorithms were a black box; the EU now has the authority to open the lid. Whether the three services can meet the deadline is the next key checkpoint.
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