ChatGPT and Roblox may soon join Europe’s most heavily regulated online platforms.
The European Commission said Thursday that both OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Roblox could be designated under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) as either a very large online platform (VLOP) or a very large online search engine (VLOSE).
The possibility was confirmed by European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier, who said that because both services have reported user numbers above the DSA threshold of 45 million monthly users in the EU, a designation is “definitely possible” and could “come sooner or later,” according to Reuters.
Bloomberg reported that the decision could arrive as early as August, with ChatGPT’s search function expected to be classified as a VLOSE and Roblox as a VLOP.
OpenAI said it continues to engage with the European Commission regarding the DSA, while Roblox did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to Bloomberg.
What changes if they are designated?
A VLOP or VLOSE designation would place ChatGPT and Roblox under the DSA’s strictest oversight regime.
The law requires major platforms and search services to take stronger measures against illegal and harmful content, publish transparency reports, explain how they reduce systemic risks, and cooperate more closely with regulators. Companies must also establish points of contact for users and authorities, undergo independent audits, and share certain data with regulators for oversight purposes.
Balancing oversight and innovation
The DSA has already become one of the world’s most influential technology regulations, with the EU opening more than a dozen investigations into online platforms since the rules took effect in 2022.
Previous enforcement actions have shown that inclusion on the DSA list can carry real consequences. X was fined €120 million ($137 million) for issues including deceptive design and transparency failures, while Alibaba’s e-commerce platform received a €550 million fine after EU regulators said it failed to properly address risks involving unsafe or counterfeit products.
For OpenAI and Roblox, the designation would not prevent them from operating in Europe, but it would add compliance costs and require more detailed reporting.
What it could mean for EU residents
For people using ChatGPT or Roblox in the EU, the designation could bring more visibility and control over how the services shape their experience.
Users could receive clearer explanations when content is removed, restricted, or made less visible, along with stronger options to challenge platform decisions. They may also get easier ways to report illegal content and greater transparency about advertisements and recommendation systems.
The rules could be particularly significant for younger Roblox users. The DSA prohibits targeted advertising to minors and requires the largest platforms to assess risks involving children’s safety, privacy, and exposure to potentially harmful or addictive experiences.
ChatGPT users may notice fewer immediate changes because the service does not operate like a traditional social network. However, classifying its search function as a major search engine could lead to greater scrutiny of how it ranks, recommends, and presents information to millions of European users.
Related reading: Europe is also expanding its ambitions beyond software, with Paris startup UMA developing a humanoid robot designed to bring physical AI into factories and warehouses.