ChatGPT Is Now Subject to the EU's Toughest Platform Rules
The European Commission has classified ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Search Engine, putting OpenAI under the same strict rules that govern the biggest social media platforms in Europe.
Key points
- The European Commission classified ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Search Engine under the EU's Digital Services Act in 2025.
- Reddit and Roblox were simultaneously classified as Very Large Online Platforms under the same law.
- All three services must comply with the new rules by the end of December 2026.
- The Digital Services Act bans targeted ads aimed at children and restricts ads based on religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or political beliefs.
ChatGPT has just hit a regulatory milestone in Europe, and not the good kind for OpenAI.
The European Commission, the executive body of the European Union, has officially classified ChatGPT as a "Very Large Online Search Engine" under a sweeping set of EU laws called the Digital Services Act, or DSA. Think of the DSA as a rulebook for the biggest websites and apps operating in Europe, one that sets firm requirements on how they handle users' safety, data, and the content they show.
What does this actually mean for ChatGPT users in Europe?
Starting at the end of 2026, OpenAI must meet a higher standard of care for EU users. That includes stronger protections for children, safeguards around user mental health, and tougher limits on illegal content spreading through the platform.
The DSA kicks in for any platform or search engine once it reaches 45 million average monthly users inside the EU. ChatGPT has cleared that bar, which is why the designation applies. First reported by The Verge AI, the announcement puts OpenAI alongside social media giant Reddit and gaming platform Roblox, which were both designated as Very Large Online Platforms on the same day.
All three companies have until 31 December 2026 to comply fully.
What rules must these platforms follow?
The obligations are wide-ranging. Platforms cannot target advertising at minors. They cannot use a person's religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or political beliefs to aim ads at them. They must also be more open about how their recommendation systems work, meaning users get clearer explanations of why they see certain content.
For a service like ChatGPT, which millions of teenagers and young adults use daily for homework help, research, and general queries, the child-safety angle carries real weight.
Henna Virkkunen, the EU's executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, security, and democracy, framed it plainly: "These new designations mean that 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."
What happens if they don't comply?
Non-compliance under the DSA can trigger fines of up to six percent of a company's global annual revenue. For a company the size of OpenAI, that is a significant number.
For everyday users in Europe, the practical effect should be more transparency and fewer ways for platforms to quietly exploit personal data for ad targeting. For parents, it means platforms like Roblox face binding rules, not just voluntary pledges, about how they treat younger users.
The December 2026 deadline gives all three companies roughly 18 months to restructure the relevant parts of their products. Whether they do so quietly or with friction will be worth watching.
Common questions
Does this affect ChatGPT users outside Europe?
No. The Digital Services Act applies only within the European Union. Users in the United States, the UK, and elsewhere are not covered by these specific rules, though separate national regulations may apply.
What is a "Very Large" platform under EU law?
Any online service that reaches at least 45 million average monthly active users inside the EU qualifies for the designation, triggering the DSA's strictest tier of obligations.
