The European Commission has formally classified ChatGPT as a “very large online search engine” under the Digital Services Act, a designation that pulls the AI chatbot into the bloc’s most demanding regulatory framework. The announcement, made public on 31 August 2026, also elevates the discussion forum Reddit and the gaming environment Roblox to “very large online platform” status.
All three services now face the DSA’s toughest transparency and safety requirements, joining a select group of digital offerings that must comply with enhanced scrutiny across the European Union.
User Numbers Far Exceed the Legal Threshold
Brussels based its decision on the platforms’ substantial user bases within the EU. The regulatory cutoff for this top tier sits at 45 million monthly active users. ChatGPT clears that bar by a wide margin — Commission estimates point to more than 160 million monthly users, while separate surveys put the figure at 159 million.
Reddit and Roblox also stand comfortably above the line. The Commission recorded 57.2 million monthly EU users for Reddit. For Roblox, reported figures fluctuate between 46.6 million and 48 million monthly users. With these three additions, a total of 28 digital services now fall under the DSA’s strictest supervision level.
First AI Application Treated as a Search Engine
The ruling breaks new ground in European digital regulation by explicitly categorising an artificial intelligence application as a search engine. For OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, this triggers a demanding compliance workload. The firm must submit a comprehensive risk assessment, including an annual analysis of how its system affects users and society.
The DSA also obliges designated platforms to open their internal data to qualified researchers. That access is designed to allow independent verification of how algorithms operate and to identify systemic risks the services might pose.
Supervision follows the country-of-origin principle. Irish authorities will oversee ChatGPT and Reddit, while Dutch regulators take responsibility for Roblox.
Tight Deadlines and Heavy Penalties for Non-Compliance
The companies have a narrow window to bring their operations into line with the new obligations. ChatGPT must meet its specific DSA duties by the end of December 2026. The broader deadline for technical and organisational adjustments across all three platforms expires at the end of November 2026.
The Commission underlined the seriousness of the regime by pointing to the sanctions available. Companies that breach DSA requirements face fines of up to 6 percent of their global annual turnover. Enforcement has already proven active: existing proceedings have produced penalties totalling 870 million euros.
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