BRUSSELS: ChatGPT will face stricter safety, transparency and accountability requirements in the European Union after regulators designated the AI chatbot as a “very large” online platform under the bloc’s Digital Services Act.
The European Commission announced the classification on Monday alongside similar designations for Reddit and Roblox. The decision subjects all three services to additional regulatory scrutiny because of their reach across the 27-member bloc.
EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen said the platforms would face a higher standard of accountability because of their significant impact on European citizens and society.
Platforms Given Four Months to Meet New Requirements
The EU applies its “very large” designation to platforms and search engines reporting more than 45 million monthly active users across the bloc. According to the commission, ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox have crossed that threshold.
Consequently, the services have four months to comply with additional obligations under the Digital Services Act.
The requirements include identifying and mitigating systemic risks involving illegal content, minors, users’ physical and mental well-being, fundamental rights, elections and public security.
Moreover, regulators can scrutinise how companies assess such risks and what measures they implement to reduce potential harm.
EU Classifies ChatGPT as Search Engine Under DSA
To bring ChatGPT within the DSA framework, the commission classified the service as a search engine.
Lena-Maria Boswald of German technology think tank Interface said the decision could establish a precedent for other widely used generative AI systems operating in Europe.
She noted that OpenAI already faces risk-management requirements under the EU AI Act, while the DSA could broaden its regulatory responsibilities.
Meanwhile, Brussels has intensified oversight of major technology platforms despite opposition from Washington.
The EU recently ordered TikTok to address concerns about allegedly addictive design features. Last year, it also fined Elon Musk’s X $138 million over transparency and other violations.
The latest designations therefore extend the EU’s digital regulatory framework further into generative artificial intelligence.
