The EU designates ChatGPT as a very large online search engine, and Reddit and Roblox as very large online platforms after each hit 45M monthly users in the EU

ChatGPT, Reddit Inc. and video game company Roblox Corp. will face stricter European Union scrutiny after surpassing a threshold of 45 million monthly users in the bloc.

Bloomberg 2026-09-01 Gian Volpicelli

Context & Ripple Effects

The designation follows July reporting that the European Commission was preparing to bring ChatGPT and Roblox into the DSA’s largest-service tier, and a 2025 General Court ruling that upheld the 45-million-user qualification threshold for Amazon. The earlier designation of adult-content services showed that the category carries heightened obligations around illegal content and access controls.

Classifying ChatGPT as a search engine rather than a social or gaming platform extends the DSA’s top tier across distinct interfaces. The Commission said the three services have four months to meet the additional requirements.

First-order effects

ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox must prepare for the DSA’s stricter oversight after crossing the EU’s 45-million-monthly-user threshold; ChatGPT does so as a very large online search engine, while Reddit and Roblox enter as very large online platforms.
The European Commission gains a common supervisory framework for an AI answer service, a user-generated-content forum and a game platform, despite their different product formats.

Second-order effects

OpenAI, Reddit and Roblox will need to align EU compliance processes with the risks created by search responses, community content and game-platform interactions rather than treating scale regulation as a social-media-only issue.
The designation gives other high-reach digital services a clearer signal that user scale—not a platform’s interface—determines entry into the DSA’s strictest tier.

Third-order effects

If the threshold continues to be applied across product categories, EU platform governance will become increasingly interface-neutral: systemic reach, rather than whether a service looks like a search engine, forum or game, will set the regulatory perimeter.
The search-engine classification places AI answer products inside the same large-service regulatory architecture as established online intermediaries, increasing pressure to define oversight around distribution and user reach.

The trend: The EU is applying the DSA’s largest-service regime across AI search, social communities and gaming platforms as each reaches systemic scale.

Discussion

@eu_commission @eu_commission on x
We have designated ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Search Engine and Reddit and Roblox as Very Large Online Platforms under the Digital Services Act. They now have four months to comply with additional DSA obligations. More: https://link.europa.eu/8bmk3M #DSA
@kimmonismus @kimmonismus on x
Imagine celebrating that ChatGPT Search has become huge in Europe because it means you can finally regulate it. And no, this isn't a parody account from the EU Commission. They're serious. ChatGPT Search now reaches 159 million monthly users in the EU. Europe has failed to bu…
@barryandrewsmep @barryandrewsmep on x
After several months since I raised this issue, the EU has today stepped in to regulate @ChatGPT as systemic...
@davidondrej1 David Ondrej on x
proud of the progress coming out of the EU! we really are at the cutting edge of regulation Americans can only dream of this level of responsible restrictions
@giffmana Lucas Beyer on x
It would be useful communications if you actually told us what this means while you're at it. Instead, now a million people have to ask their Very Large Search Engine the question, evaporating thousands of gall...litres of water.
@johnennis John Ennis on x
Whenever the EU posts, I always have to check first to make sure it's not a parody account since everything they post is so stupid
@hesamation @hesamation on x
EU PUTS CHATGPT UNDER MORE REGULATION ChatGPT crossed the DSA's 45M monthly EU-user threshold, which puts it under a set of much stricter rules this could mean even slower EU rollouts for new ChatGPT features
@luizajarovsky Luiza Jarovsky, PhD on x
The search-AI chatbot barrier has officially been broken in Law. This is bad news for Google.
@hennavirkkunen Henna Virkkunen on x
We designated ChatGPT as a VLOSE and Reddit and Roblox as VLOPs under the DSA. These services indicated that they reach at least 45M average monthly users in the EU and thus meet the threshold for designation. https://ec.europa.eu/...
@perrymetzger Perry E. Metzger on x
The EU has no capacity to innovate, except in the area of regulation, where the Eurocracy universally feels it can improve everything it encounters by peeing on it.
@pernotleplay Emmanuel Pernot-Leplay on x
- ...The DSA has no category for generative AI, it qualifies because it can respond to prompts by searching the web. - In 4 months the obligations will apply: systemic risk assessments on minors, mental health, etc and... elections. - Art. 34 of the DSA mandates to assess syste…
@tekbog @tekbog on x
so how do you make money? we just tax the americans forever no innovation? oh we are the best at regulations to tax the americans more
@matthewchang Matthew Chang on x
The EU considers ChatGPT to be a search engine. For those that worried about regulation on AI, it's here now. I don't think you can put the toothpaste back in the tube. Also, gonna be a tough adjustment for Reddit 🤣
@carstenbreum Carsten on x
EU is yet again wasting our time and money of hunting down ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox with ton of new regulation instead of creating an environment for businesses to grow. The future for EU doesn't look good at all. We are behind China and USA in almost every way possible. Once
@digitaleu @digitaleu on x
Commission designates ChatGPT, Reddit & Roblox under the Digital Services Act. These services reach at least 45M monthly users in the EU, meeting the threshold for designation. They have four months to comply with the DSA obligations for VLOPs & VLOSEs. https://link.europa.eu/3DM…
@zck Zak Kukoff on x
Isn't it embarrassing at some point to spend your life stamping out the value others create?
@martinvars Martin Varsavsky on x
I feel uncomfortable with people who collect lavish salaries, that I pay for with my taxes, who pretend to protect me.
@_can1357 @_can1357 on x
I have designated the European Commission as a Very Large Language Model. It is confidently hallucinating things.
@davidbaszucki David Baszucki on x
Proud of our growth in the EU. Roblox is the first gaming platform to be designated a Very Large Online Platform. Thanks to our creator community across all 27 member states, and our teams supporting safe, engaging, and age-appropriate online experiences. Supported by our indu…
@deryatr_ Derya Unutmaz on x
Europe's AI and technology strategy: Regulate it. Delay it. Restrict it. Add a disclaimer. Create a committee. Fine the company. Then wonder why the innovation is happening somewhere else! ... Meanwhile, the US and Asia are building.
@stevepeers Steve Peers on bluesky
EU tech law — EU Commission designates ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox as having additional obligations under the Digital Services Act ec.europa.eu/commission/p... [image]
r/neoliberal r on reddit
EU places ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox under strictest digital safety rules
r/reformuk r on reddit
Great News! Reddit Subject to (EU) Digital Services Act
r/technology r on reddit
EU Designates ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox as Major Digital Services. They now have until January 2027 to perform annual risk assessments …
r/technology r on reddit
EU places ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox under strictest digital safety rules
r/europeanunion r on reddit
European Commission designates ChatGPT, Reddit, Roblox under Digital Services Act

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