ChatGPT will face tougher safety and accountability requirements in the European Union after Brussels designated it as a “very large” online platform, the first such classification for an AI chatbot.
The European Commission also designated Reddit and Roblox as very large online platforms on Monday, bringing the three services under additional oversight and legal obligations.
“ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox will now be held to a higher standard of scrutiny and accountability in the European Union, in line with their large impact on our citizens and society,” EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen said.
New obligations
The “very large” designation applies to platforms and search engines with more than 45 million monthly active users in the 27-member bloc. The commission said ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox had reported meeting the threshold.
The three services now have four months to comply with additional obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA), the EU’s main legislation governing online platforms and content moderation.
The requirements include assessing and mitigating systemic risks linked to illegal content, the effects on minors, users’ physical and mental well-being, fundamental rights, electoral processes and public security.
ChatGPT classified as a search engine
To bring ChatGPT under the DSA’s regulatory framework, the commission classified it as a search engine.
Lena-Maria Boswald of German tech think tank Interface said the move could set a precedent and influence regulatory expectations for other large generative AI systems used in the EU.
“OpenAI already has risk-management obligations under the AI Act, but the DSA could widen the scope,” she said.
EU steps up Big Tech oversight
The expanded scrutiny comes as the EU has stepped up enforcement against major digital platforms, including several US-based companies, despite strong pushback from Washington and threats of retaliation.
The bloc recently ordered TikTok, one of about 30 other platforms on the list, to address what it deemed addictive design or face heavy fines.
Last year, the EU fined Elon Musk’s social media platform X $138 million for breaching transparency obligations and other violations.
