The European Commission has categorized ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Search Engine (VLOSE) under the Digital Services Act (DSA). Furthermore, the services Reddit and Roblox have also received a new classification, being designated as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOP).
These services have a four-month period to adapt to the strict rules established in the European bloc. Non-compliance may result in severe sanctions, including fines that can reach 6% of global turnover.
Within the European Union, ChatGPT will now be treated as a search engine, legally equating it to Google and Bing. Consequently, OpenAI's service will be subject to the most rigorous regulations of the Digital Services Act (DSA).
Specifically, the European Commission considered ChatGPT a VLOSE due to its ability to provide users with answers similar to conventional search engines. Previously, only Google and Bing held such a classification.
Meanwhile, the Reddit and Roblox services were classified as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOP). Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, Amazon, and App Store were already part of this category.
The determining factor for all these new classifications was that the three services register an average monthly user base exceeding 45 million in the European Union.
Platforms designated as VLOSE or VLOP must adhere to a set of stringent rules to operate in the European Union in compliance with the DSA. With this decision, ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox have until December 2026 to adapt their operations to the DSA. Otherwise, the European Commission may impose penalties, such as fines of up to 6% of the company's annual global revenue and suspension of service in the bloc's countries.
These new designations imply that ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox will be under a higher level of scrutiny and responsibility in the European Union, given their significant influence on citizens and society. Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice President for Technological Sovereignty at the European Commission, stated that they continue to monitor the digital landscape and will designate any platform that meets the requirements for enhanced supervision under the Digital Services Act.