The European Commission has classified ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Service, imposing stricter regulations and obligations on OpenAI.
The European Commission has officially classified ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Service (VLOSE) under the Digital Services Act (DSA) as of August 31. This new designation mandates that OpenAI fulfill additional obligations by January 2027, focusing on the identification and mitigation of systemic risks associated with the service.
Additionally, platforms such as Reddit and Roblox have received the designation of Very Large Online Platforms (VLOP), which applies to services averaging over 45 million users monthly within the EU.
OpenAI reported that from October 2025 to March 31, 2026, ChatGPT's search functions were utilized by approximately 159.1 million users each month in the EU, significantly exceeding the VLOSE threshold.
Consequently, ChatGPT must adhere to specific DSA requirements for major online services, including addressing risks related to:
- illegal content dissemination;
- minor protection;
- users' physical and mental health;
- fundamental rights;
- elections and public safety.
OpenAI is also tasked with creating an internal compliance function to meet DSA standards, undergoing an independent annual audit, and sharing relevant data with the European Commission and national authorities.
Researchers with verified credentials will have the opportunity to request access to necessary information for studying systemic risks. Mitigation strategies may require changes to service structures, including algorithmic and recommendation systems.
Noncompliance with the DSA could lead to fines reaching up to 6% of a company's global annual revenue for large online platforms and search engines, with regulators empowered to enforce corrective actions for any identified violations.
Furthermore, in August, the European Commission acquired the power to impose penalties on providers of general-purpose AI models for breaches of the Artificial Intelligence Act.
