EU places ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox under toughest rules, threatens steep fines

The European Commission designated OpenAI’s ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Search Engine and Reddit and Roblox as Very Large Online Platforms under the Digital Services Act, expanding oversight to platforms with at least 45 million EU users. The platforms face four months to implement risk assessments and mitigation measures addressing illegal content, minor protection, elections integrity, and user well-being. They must establish internal compliance functions, undergo annual independent audits, and share data with EU authorities, while allowing access for vetted researchers. They must offer at least one non-profiling recommender and maintain a publicly accessible ad repository, and ensure algorithmic systems cannot be misused to spread harm. Penalties for non-compliance can reach up to 6% of global annual turnover, with ongoing enforcement from Brussels. Observers note that designation timing and certainty can vary, but the current thresholds place these services under Europe's toughest online-safety regime.