ChatGPT faces tougher EU platform rules

ChatGPT has been added to the EU’s list of digital services subject to tougher scrutiny under the Digital Services Act, marking the first time an AI chatbot has received the designation. Reddit and Roblox were also classified as “very large” online platforms, a status reserved for services with more than 45 million monthly active users in the 27-nation grouping.

The three services now have four months to meet additional obligations, including assessing and reducing systemic risks linked to illegal content, algorithmic systems, minors, user well-being, fundamental rights, elections and public security. The European Commission brought ChatGPT under the law by qualifying it as a search engine. OpenAI’s chatbot reported more than 159 million users in the European Union at the end of March.

The designations come as Brussels expands enforcement against major digital platforms. Roblox reported 46.6 million active players in the EU, while Reddit reported more than 57 million users in the bloc. Companies that breach the Digital Services Act can face penalties including fines of up to 6 per cent of annual global turnover and, in serious repeated cases, a possible ban from operating in Europe.