ChatGPT has become the first AI chatbot to face tougher regulatory scrutiny in the European Union after being designated a “very large” online platform under the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA).
The European Commission said ChatGPT, Reddit and gaming platform Roblox had crossed the threshold of more than 45 million monthly active users in the EU, bringing them under additional legal obligations and oversight. The platforms will have four months to comply with stricter requirements covering illegal content, child safety, mental and physical well-being, fundamental rights, electoral processes and public security.
The EU classified ChatGPT as a search engine to bring it within the DSA’s regulatory framework. OpenAI reported more than 159 million ChatGPT users in the EU at the end of March, representing more than one-third of the bloc’s population.
OpenAI said it was preparing to meet the new compliance requirements, while EU officials described the move as an important step toward greater accountability for major digital services. The designation could also establish a regulatory precedent for other large generative AI systems operating in Europe.
The move comes as the EU intensifies enforcement of its digital regulations, with major technology companies including Google, Apple, Microsoft, TikTok, Amazon and X already facing increased scrutiny. Companies covered by the DSA can face substantial fines for failing to meet the bloc’s requirements.
