WORLD NEWS
EU imposes mega-service obligations on ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox… The standard is 45 million people per month.
On August 31, the European Commission designated ChatGPT as a very large online search engine (VLOSE) and Reddit and Roblox as very large online platforms (VLOPs). Since the three services have reported that they have exceeded the threshold of 45 million monthly users in the EU, they will be subject to strengthened risk assessment, audit and transparency obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
This does not mean that the three services have been ruled illegal or will soon be blocked in the EU. This designation is an oversight step based on the scale of use, and additional obligations must be fulfilled within four months of receiving notification.
Why are the three services given different names?
ChatGPT has been classified as a very large online search engine because its search function finds and presents online information in response to user questions. Reddit and Roblox were classified as very large online platforms because they let users make posts, comments and game experiences available to others. Although they receive the same strengthened supervision, the service structure and risk assessment targets are different.
What does the 45 million threshold mean?
The DSA sets 45 million average monthly users as the threshold for designation as a very large service, which is approximately 10% of the EU population. The Commission announcement explains that all three services have crossed this threshold. OpenAI separately disclosed that the average monthly active users of ChatGPT searches in the EU for the six months to March 2026 were approximately 159.1 million. This figure is not the same as the total number of ChatGPT users.
What do the additional duties actually require?
Service providers must regularly assess and mitigate systemic risks involving the spread of illegal content, protection of minors, physical and mental well-being, fundamental rights, elections, and public safety. Obligations such as independent audit and regulatory scrutiny, access to data by qualified researchers, and transparency in recommender systems and advertising will also be strengthened. There is no single rule that pre-approves all posts or immediately removes problematic content.
What changes will users feel right away?
Screens or account rules will not automatically change on the designated day. Changes occur depending on how each company revises its risk assessment, reporting and appeal procedures, protection of minors, and explanatory materials. We cannot assume that the same functionality will apply to users outside the EU. You should check service-specific notices and the next transparency reports separately.
Why should I be careful about calendar deadlines and next checks?
Both the original Commission text and several official translation pages state that the legal threshold is four months after notification, but the example end month is inconsistent between language versions. Therefore, this article does not confirm a specific month end. The next confirmation path is the individual designation decision, the Commission’s list of designated very large services, the three companies’ compliance plans, and the results of the first risk assessment and audit.
Primary sources and independent checks
European Commission designation announcement
European Commission DSA overview and designated-services list