EU Adds ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox to Strictest Digital Regulations

According to Euronews, the European Commission has designated ChatGPT as a "very large online search engine" and Reddit and Roblox as "very large online platforms" under the Digital Services Act (DSA), requiring all three to comply with the EU’s strictest online safety rules within four months—by the end of November. This designation is significant: the European Commission has determined that AI chatbots capable of retrieving online content in real time are equivalent to search engines under regulation—a first-time classification for ChatGPT. All three platforms exceed the 45 million monthly active users threshold in the EU: ChatGPT has approximately 159 million, Reddit around 57.2 million, and Roblox about 48 million. Under the DSA, these platforms must conduct annual systemic risk assessments covering areas such as illegal content, protection of minors, mental health, fundamental rights, and electoral integrity; undergo independent audits; and grant regulatory authorities access to their data. Non-compliance may result in fines of up to 6% of global annual turnover. With this designation, the total number of platforms subject to the DSA’s strictest oversight has now reached 28.