ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox hit EU’s strictest online safety rules

EU designates ChatGPT, Reddit, Roblox as very large online platforms under DSA

The European Union has moved to treat three popular online services as very large platforms under its Digital Services Act, a step that brings stricter duties and the threat of hefty fines. The announcement came on Monday, August 31, 2026, from the European Commission, which said that OpenAI’s ChatGPT, the social forum Reddit and the gaming site Roblox each now have more than 45 million monthly users in the EU. That figure triggers the heightened scrutiny reserved for platforms that reach a significant share of the bloc’s population.

Because of the designation, the three services must now take down illegal content more swiftly, put stronger safeguards in place for the privacy and security of minors, and provide greater transparency about how their algorithms work. If they fail to meet these obligations, the Commission can levy fines of up to six percent of each company’s global annual turnover. The services have been given until the end of December to adjust their operations and demonstrate compliance.

The move reflects the EU’s effort to keep its digital rulebook current as new kinds of online experiences explode in popularity. Officials noted that the decision marks the first time the Digital Services Act has been applied to a generative AI chatbot, extending a regime that until now focused mainly on traditional social networks and marketplaces. The Commission’s tech chief, Henna Virkkunen, said the platforms will be held to a higher standard of scrutiny and accountability because of their large impact on citizens and society.

How OpenAI, Roblox and others are reacting to the new DSA obligations

OpenAI told regulators it is preparing to meet the added requirements, while Roblox celebrated the milestone as a sign of its growing reach and reiterated that safety remains a core part of its design philosophy. Reddit did not offer an immediate comment when asked for a reaction.

The expansion of the Digital Services Act arrives alongside other EU initiatives aimed at governing artificial intelligence. The bloc has begun to enforce its AI Act, the world’s first comprehensive law that sets rules for the development and deployment of AI systems. At the same time, competition authorities are looking into whether certain AI-powered features breach antitrust rules, with an ongoing investigation into whether Google’s use of AI overviews gives it an unfair advantage in search.

The EU’s regulatory push has drawn criticism from Washington, where officials argue that the bloc is unfairly targeting American technology companies and threatening free-speech principles cherished by certain political movements. European officials reject that claim, insisting that the Digital Services Act applies to any firm that offers services to EU users, regardless of where the company is headquartered. They point to recent enforcement actions against non-US platforms as evidence of even-handed application. In July, the Chinese marketplace AliExpress was fined 550 million euros for failing to keep illegal goods off its site, a penalty that underscores the commission’s willingness to punish violators wherever they are based.

What developers must do to meet EU DSA rules for user-generated content

For developers and businesses that rely on these platforms, the new obligations mean they should review how their own integrations handle user-generated content, especially any material that could be deemed illegal under EU law. Companies that build bots or tools on top of ChatGPT, for instance, may need to add extra checks to ensure their outputs do not violate hate-speech, harassment or copyright rules. Likewise, anyone who runs communities on Reddit or creates experiences on Roblox should familiarize themselves with the platforms’ updated reporting tools and age-verification mechanisms to avoid unintentionally falling afoul of the stricter standards.

The deadline at the end of the year leaves a limited window for adjustment, but it also offers a chance to align products with a regulatory environment that is likely to shape the future of AI-driven services in Europe. Staying informed about the Commission’s guidance, participating in any consultation processes, and implementing robust content-moderation pipelines now could save costly retrofits later and help maintain access to a market of hundreds of millions of users.

Source: Ars Technica