ChatGPT and Roblox Face Tighter EU Regulations as VLOP Status Looms
ChatGPT and Roblox are reportedly set to join the ranks of platforms subject to the European Union's most stringent online regulations. According to Bloomberg, both services will soon be added to the EU's "very large online platform" (VLOP) list, triggering compliance requirements under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
The VLOP designation applies to platforms that reach 45 million or more monthly active users within the EU. Once designated, companies must adhere to enhanced obligations around content moderation, algorithmic transparency, and systemic risk assessments. These platforms are also required to give researchers greater access to data and submit to independent audits.
For ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, the designation comes as the AI chatbot has seen rapid adoption across Europe. For Roblox, the popular gaming platform, it reflects its substantial user base on the continent. Both companies would need to ensure their systems and practices align with the DSA's requirements within specified timeframes.
The EU's VLOP list already includes major platforms such as Google, Meta, and TikTok. The addition of AI-native services like ChatGPT marks an expansion of the regulatory framework into the rapidly growing generative AI space, signaling regulators' intent to apply existing digital platform rules to emerging technologies.