The European Union plans to label ChatGPT and Roblox as 'very large online platforms' (VLOPs) in August, a move that would subject them to stricter regulations under the bloc's Digital Services Act (DSA). Reports differ on the certainty of the designation, with some presenting it as definitive and others suggesting it could be included.
Under the DSA, platforms with more than 45 million monthly active users in the EU are designated as VLOPs. Once designated, they must comply with a series of obligations within four months, including establishing a point of contact for authorities and users.
Threshold in the EU for designation as a very large online platform.
VLOPs must launch user-friendly terms and conditions, ensure transparency in advertising, recommendation systems, and content moderation decisions, and report criminal offenses. They are also required to assess risks related to illegal content, electoral processes, gender-based violence, freedom of expression, media freedom, and discrimination, and implement mitigation measures.
Additionally, VLOPs must establish an internal compliance process, undergo annual audits, share data with the European Commission, and allow vetted researchers to access their data.
Roblox faces multiple lawsuits accusing it of failing to protect children from predatory adult players, highlighting existing concerns about child safety on the platform. OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has faced criticism for not notifying authorities when it banned the ChatGPT account of the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting suspect in 2025. The company has since vowed to report credible threats to authorities in the future.
OpenAI is also facing wrongful death lawsuits from families of users who died by suicide, alleging the platform lacked safeguards for suicidal behaviors. The new EU rules would require platforms to assess and mitigate such risks.