The European Union has added ChatGPT to the list of digital services subject to stricter legal oversight, making it the first AI chatbot to fall under such measures.
On Monday, 31 Aug 2026 GMT+7, the European Union (EU) classified ChatGPT as a "very large" online platform and search engine, a status that brings increased regulations and oversight. This is the first time such measures have been applied to an AI chatbot.
Additionally, the EU included social media platform Reddit and gaming platform Roblox on this list.
Henna Virkkunen, the EU's Chief Technology Officer, stated, "ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox will now be subject to higher standards of scrutiny and accountability in the EU, reflecting their significant impact on our citizens and society."
The European Commission explained that the "very large" platform designation applies to platforms and search engines with over 45 million monthly active users across the 27 EU member countries. ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox have all reported user numbers exceeding this threshold.
These three services have four months to comply with additional regulations under the Digital Services Act (DSA), a content regulation law the EU has used in recent years to oversee Big Tech companies.
The EU specified that these regulations include "systemic risk assessments and mitigation related to the dissemination of illegal content, negative impacts on minors, users' physical and mental well-being, fundamental rights, electoral processes, and public security."
To bring ChatGPT under the DSA framework, the European Commission has classified it as a search engine.
Lena-Maria Boswald from Germany's Interface technology research institute said before the announcement that this EU move would create a "new norm" and "shape regulatory expectations for all large generative AI systems operating in the EU."
She added, "OpenAI (ChatGPT's provider) is already required to manage risks under the Artificial Intelligence Act, but the DSA legislation may extend the scope even further."
This classification comes as the EU is intensifying enforcement of regulations on major global digital platforms, many of which are US-based, despite strong opposition and threats of retaliation from the US.
Recently, the EU warned TikTok—one of about 30 platforms on the list—to change service designs deemed to be "addictive" to users or face massive fines.
Last year, the EU fined Elon Musk’s social media platform X 120 million euros for transparency violations and other regulatory breaches.
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Source:cna