The European Union is expanding its regulatory oversight of the digital landscape by designating three additional services—ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox—as 'Very Large Online Platforms' (VLOPs). This classification brings these entities under the jurisdiction of the Digital Services Act (DSA), a comprehensive set of regulations designed to hold major tech companies accountable for the content and safety of their platforms.

Under the new requirements, these companies must adhere to rigorous standards regarding risk management, content moderation, and transparency. The DSA mandates that platforms identify and mitigate systemic risks, such as the spread of illegal content, the manipulation of democratic processes, or negative impacts on the mental health of users. Furthermore, these platforms are now required to provide greater transparency regarding their recommendation algorithms and advertising practices.

Companies classified as VLOPs are subject to regular independent audits and must provide the European Commission with access to data to ensure compliance. Failure to meet these obligations can result in significant financial penalties, which may reach up to 6% of a company's global annual turnover. The platforms have been granted a four-month window to align their internal operations and reporting structures with these new legal obligations. While the EU has previously applied these rules to major search engines and social media giants, this move signals a shift toward regulating generative AI services and interactive gaming environments with the same level of scrutiny.