Key Points
EU escalates oversight of major online services
On 31 August 2026 the European Commission placed ChatGPT, Reddit (RDDT) and Roblox (RBLX) under the European Union’s most stringent Digital Services Act regime for large services. ChatGPT was designated a Very Large Online Search Engine, while Reddit (RDDT) and Roblox (RBLX) were classified as Very Large Online Platforms. The decisions reflect that each service reported at least 45 million average monthly users within the EU, meeting the DSA’s threshold for heightened obligations.
With these designations, the number of very large online platforms and search engines covered by the DSA rises to 28. The move brings generative AI, social discussion forums and online gaming within the same enhanced regulatory framework, signalling broader application of the DSA across different types of digital services.
New systemic risk obligations and deadlines
The newly designated services must comply with additional DSA obligations tailored to very large platforms and search engines. They are required to identify, assess and mitigate systemic risks arising from the dissemination of illegal content on their services. The rules also address risks linked to the protection of minors and the impact of services on users’ physical and mental well-being.
Beyond user safety, the obligations extend to potential effects on fundamental rights, electoral processes and public security. ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox have four months, until the end of December 2026, to demonstrate that they meet these requirements. The compliance period is intended to allow the companies to adjust their systems and processes while giving regulators a clear timetable for enforcement.
Supervision and coordination with national authorities
Oversight of the new obligations will be led by the European Commission, which will exercise investigative and supervisory powers. The Commission will work in cooperation with national authorities to monitor and enforce compliance. Ireland will collaborate with the Commission on supervision of ChatGPT and Reddit, while the Netherlands will do so for Roblox.
This shared structure is designed to align EU-level regulation with the expertise and jurisdiction of national regulators. It integrates the three services into a broader enforcement network that already covers other very large online platforms and search engines under the DSA.
ChatGPT under dual EU regulatory regimes
In addition to its designation as a Very Large Online Search Engine under the DSA, ChatGPT is also subject to the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act. This places the service within two separate but related regulatory regimes: one focused on online intermediary obligations and systemic risks, and another targeting AI-specific requirements.
The combination means ChatGPT must manage both general online service responsibilities and rules tailored to artificial intelligence systems. In contrast, Reddit and Roblox are currently described only in terms of their DSA status as Very Large Online Platforms, facing the broader online safety and risk mitigation duties defined by that law.
Key Takeaways
- 01The EU now treats ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox as very large services, bringing them under the DSA’s most demanding risk and safety rules.
- 02A four-month implementation window sets a clear timetable for how quickly the three services must adjust their risk management and governance practices.
- 03ChatGPT’s simultaneous coverage by the DSA and the AI Act illustrates the EU’s layered approach to regulating both digital platforms and AI systems.