ChatGPT, Roblox, and Reddit Subject to Stricter Rules by the European Union

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The European Union is expanding its oversight of major digital platforms. The European Commission announced on Monday, August 31, that ChatGPT, Roblox, and Reddit will now be subject to enhanced obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA).

This decision marks a significant step for generative artificial intelligence: ChatGPT becomes the first major service of its kind to fall under the additional rules imposed on digital services deemed systemic.

A Threshold of 45 Million Users

The new classification is based in part on their European audience size. To be subject to these obligations, services must reach at least 45 million active monthly users in the European Union.

ChatGPT has reportedly far exceeded this threshold. OpenAI indicated at the end of March that it has over 159 million users in the EU. Roblox claims to have around 46.6 million active European players, while Reddit states it has over 57 million users in the European territory.

The European Commission considers ChatGPT a very large online search engine (VLOSE), while Roblox and Reddit are classified as very large online platforms (VLOP).

This distinction places all three services under a particularly high level of regulatory scrutiny.

Four Months to Comply

ChatGPT, Roblox, and Reddit now have a period of four months, until the end of December, to meet the new obligations set forth by the DSA.

The European text requires very large digital services to identify the systemic risks associated with their operations and take measures to mitigate them. Platforms must also assess how their services and algorithms may contribute to the spread of illegal content or other risks that could affect users.

The protection of minors is also among the priorities, as well as the potential impacts on user well-being, fundamental rights, electoral processes, and public safety.

ChatGPT Faces an Unprecedented Regulatory Framework

For OpenAI, this decision represents a particularly significant evolution. The status assigned to ChatGPT acknowledges the scale of the service within the European digital environment while subjecting its operations to additional requirements.

The hybrid nature of ChatGPT is also an important element of the new classification. The AI service is now considered by Brussels in the category of very large online search engines, paving the way for increased scrutiny of its mechanisms and systemic risks.

The European Commission may conduct investigations to examine the operations of ChatGPT and the other two platforms involved.

Coordinated Oversight with National Regulators

Brussels will not be alone in monitoring this new regulation. For ChatGPT and Reddit, the European Commission will cooperate with the Irish regulator Coimisiún na Meán. Roblox will be monitored in collaboration with the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets.

This organization illustrates how the DSA operates: the largest platforms operating in the European market are subject to coordinated oversight, combining the expertise of the Commission and national authorities.

With this new step, the EU confirms its commitment to apply its regulatory framework to new players in artificial intelligence just as it does to major digital platforms. For ChatGPT, this transition to a new status primarily opens a compliance period that must be completed by the end of the year.