ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox Designated as Very Large Platforms Under EU Digital Services Act

OpenAI's ChatGPT, social discussion platform Reddit, and gaming platform Roblox have been designated as very large platforms under the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA). The European Commission confirmed on Monday that these services have declared user bases meeting the threshold of at least 45 million monthly active users within the bloc.

Following this designation, the companies have a four-month compliance window to meet the additional regulatory obligations mandated by the EU. These requirements include assessing and mitigating the risks associated with the dissemination of illegal content through their platforms.

Additionally, the platforms are required to address and limit negative effects on minors, as well as risks concerning the physical and mental wellbeing of users. The regulations also mandate that very large platforms safeguard fundamental rights, electoral processes, and public security.

Under the specific classifications defined by the DSA, ChatGPT qualifies as an online search engine due to its AI-system functionalities. Meanwhile, Roblox and Reddit are classified as online platforms because they allow users to share third-party content with the public.

The European Commission holds the authority to supervise compliance with the DSA and is granted investigative powers to examine the underlying functionalities of these digital services.

"The designation of platforms like ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox under the EU's Digital Services Act highlights the expanding scope of global tech regulation. For growing startups and scaling tech companies, regulatory compliance is no longer an afterthought but a core operational requirement. As these platforms face stricter oversight regarding user safety, content moderation, and data transparency, businesses must factor regulatory preparedness into their long-term growth and international expansion strategies from the outset." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes