ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox Face Stricter EU Rules Under the Digital Services Act
ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox are now set to face tougher oversight in the European Union after the European Commission placed all three services under the highest regulatory category of the Digital Services Act. The decision means the platforms must meet stricter compliance obligations by January 2027, with a stronger focus on user safety, content moderation, algorithmic accountability, and the protection of minors.
The Digital Services Act, often referred to as the DSA, is one of the EU’s most powerful tools for regulating major digital platforms. It is designed to make large online services more transparent and responsible, especially when their systems can influence public debate, recommend content at scale, or affect the safety and well-being of millions of users.
Until now, ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox had been following the basic requirements of the law. However, new user data has pushed them into a more demanding category. Under the DSA, a service can be classified as a major platform or search service if it reaches more than 45 million average monthly users in the European Union.
Recent figures show that all three services have passed that threshold. ChatGPT reported 159.1 million monthly users in the EU, Reddit reached 57.2 million, and Roblox recorded 46.6 million. As a result, the European Commission has officially designated ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Search Engine, while Reddit and Roblox have been classified as Very Large Online Platforms.
The classification of ChatGPT is especially notable. Although many users think of it primarily as an artificial intelligence chatbot, EU regulators view it as a hybrid service because it can respond to user questions and, in some cases, interact with web-based information. That functionality places it within the scope of search-related digital services under the DSA.
Reddit and Roblox fall into the online platform category because they allow users to publish, share, and distribute content to the public. Reddit hosts community discussions across thousands of topics, while Roblox allows users to create and share interactive experiences, making both services significant spaces for user-generated content.
With their new status, ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox have four months to meet the additional obligations required under the Digital Services Act. By January 2027, each company must assess the systemic risks linked to its services and algorithms. These risk assessments must look at how the platforms may contribute to the spread of illegal content, threats to public security, manipulation of electoral processes, and potential harm to fundamental rights.
The rules also place strong emphasis on the safety of children and teenagers. Roblox, in particular, is widely used by younger audiences, which means regulators are likely to pay close attention to how the platform manages risks related to minors, online interaction, harmful content, and digital well-being. ChatGPT and Reddit will also need to show how they protect users from harmful effects that may arise from recommendations, automated systems, or user-generated material.
The European Commission will now gain broader powers to investigate how these services operate. This includes examining their internal systems, moderation practices, recommendation algorithms, and risk management processes. The Commission will work with national Digital Services Coordinators to supervise compliance across the EU.
For ChatGPT and Reddit, oversight will involve cooperation with Coimisiún na Meán in Ireland. For Roblox, the Commission will coordinate with the Authority for Consumers and Markets in the Netherlands. These regulators will play a key role in monitoring whether the companies are meeting their obligations and responding properly to risks.
The decision marks another major step in the EU’s broader effort to regulate the world’s largest digital services. Platforms such as X, TikTok, and Meta have already faced heightened scrutiny under the same law, with regulators focusing on algorithmic transparency, harmful content, and systemic risks to society.
For users, the change could eventually lead to more transparency around how content is recommended, how harmful material is handled, and how platforms protect vulnerable groups. For the companies involved, it means greater regulatory pressure, more reporting requirements, and the possibility of enforcement action if they fail to comply.
As artificial intelligence tools, social platforms, and online gaming worlds become more deeply embedded in daily life, the EU is making clear that scale comes with responsibility. ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox are now officially part of that conversation, and their response to the Digital Services Act will be closely watched in the months ahead.
