.png){kind=logo}
The European Union on Monday placed ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox under greater regulatory scrutiny, designating the three services as ‘very large’ digital platforms or search services under the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA).
The designation brings additional legal obligations and oversight for the platforms, with the European Commission giving them four months to comply with the new requirements.
The European Commission designated ChatGPT as a ‘very large’ online search engine, making it the first AI chatbot to come under this level of scrutiny in the European Union.
Reddit and Roblox received the designation as ‘very large’ online platforms.
“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.
The designation applies to platforms and search engines with more than 45 million monthly active users across the EU's 27 member states. The Commission said ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox reported meeting that threshold.
Also Read: OpenAI Brings ChatGPT Ads to India for Free, Go Users
Under the DSA, the three services must assess and mitigate systemic risks linked to their services and algorithmic systems.
The risks include the spread of illegal content, negative effects on minors, users’ physical and mental well-being, fundamental rights, electoral processes and public security.
The European Commission said the platforms would get four months to comply with the additional obligations. Lena-Maria Boswald of German tech think tank Interface said the decision would set a ‘precedent’ and “influence the regulatory expectations for every large generative AI system used in the EU”.
“OpenAI already has risk-management obligations under the AI Act, but the DSA could widen the scope,” she said.
The expanded scrutiny also covers Roblox, a gaming platform where users can build and share games, and Reddit, the popular online forum.
The latest designations come as the EU increases regulatory enforcement against some of the world's biggest digital platforms, including several US-based companies.
The European Union recently ordered TikTok, one of around 30 other listed platforms, to change what it considered its addictive design or face heavy fines.
The DSA remains one of Brussels’ key tools for regulating major digital platforms and addressing risks linked to their services, algorithms and impact on users.
