ChatGPT will face tougher regulatory scrutiny in the European Union after Brussels added the AI chatbot to its list of “very large” online platforms.
The European Commission also placed Reddit and gaming platform Roblox under the same category on Monday.
EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen said the three services would now face higher standards of scrutiny and accountability because of their large impact on European users and society.
The designation applies to platforms and search engines with more than 45 million monthly active users in the EU.
New rules bring wider responsibilities
The three companies now have four months to meet additional requirements under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
The law gives the EU greater powers to regulate major digital platforms and address risks linked to online content.
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Under the new rules, the companies must assess and reduce risks involving illegal content, children’s safety, physical and mental wellbeing, fundamental rights, elections and public security.
The Commission classified ChatGPT as a search engine to bring the service within the DSA framework.
ChatGPT reports more than 159 million EU users
OpenAI, the US company behind ChatGPT, reported more than 159 million users across the EU at the end of March.
That figure represents more than one-third of the bloc’s population.
OpenAI said it was preparing to meet the additional compliance requirements created by the new designation.
Roblox also welcomed the decision and described itself as the first gaming platform to receive the “very large” classification in the EU.
The platform has 46.6 million active players in the bloc, putting it just above the threshold.
Reddit reports more than 57 million users in the EU.
Focus on children and online safety
The EU’s decision comes as regulators place greater emphasis on the risks created by large digital platforms.
Roblox has a particularly large young audience because of its interactive gaming environment.
The DSA requires designated platforms to address potential risks to minors and users’ wellbeing.
The European Commission will also monitor how companies manage risks to fundamental rights and public security.
EU expands Big Tech oversight
The latest designations come as the EU increases enforcement against major technology companies.
Around 30 services now face additional scrutiny under the DSA.
The list includes platforms operated by companies such as Google, Apple, Microsoft, TikTok, X, Amazon and Shein.
It also includes several adult-content websites and the collaborative online encyclopedia Wikipedia.
The EU has faced strong opposition from Washington over some of its technology regulations.
Despite the pressure, Brussels has continued to expand its digital regulatory framework.
AI rules add another layer of oversight
The EU is also enforcing separate rules for artificial intelligence.
Its AI Act entered into force in 2024, with different obligations taking effect over several years.
The legislation aims to control potentially dangerous uses of AI and establish safeguards for users.
Technology experts say the ChatGPT designation could influence how regulators treat other major generative AI systems.
Lena-Maria Boswald of German technology think tank Interface said the move could set a precedent for large AI services operating in Europe.
She noted that OpenAI already faces risk-management obligations under the AI Act, while the DSA could expand the scope of regulatory oversight.
The latest move marks the first time an AI chatbot has received the EU’s “very large” platform designation, potentially setting a new benchmark for digital regulation in Europe.
