EU puts ChatGPT under strictest digital rules, classing it a search engine
What's the deal? The European Commission has designated ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Search Engine and Reddit and Roblox as Very Large Online Platforms under the Digital Services Act (DSA), subjecting all three to the bloc's strictest online safety regime.
Why it matters: The ruling is most consequential for ChatGPT. The Commission concluded that an AI chatbot pulling live web results functions, in regulatory terms, as a search engine — not merely a platform.
The Commission called ChatGPT a "hybrid service" that qualifies because it can engage with prompts and queries, including by searching the web. Reddit and Roblox were designated as platforms because both let users publicly create and share content.
The threshold: The DSA covers services reaching more than 45 million monthly EU users. OpenAI disclosed ChatGPT's search function averaged about 159 million monthly active users in the bloc for the six months to March 2026; Reddit reported 57.2 million and Roblox roughly 48 million.
What changes? The three services have four months — until the end of November — to comply with obligations reserved for the largest platforms. These include annual systemic risk assessments covering illegal content, protection of minors, effects on wellbeing, fundamental rights, elections, and public security.
They must also submit to independent audits and share data with regulators and vetted researchers. The Commission will supervise in cooperation with Ireland's Coimisiún na Meán, coordinator for ChatGPT and Reddit, and the Netherlands' Authority for Consumers and Markets for Roblox.
What could go wrong? Non-compliance can attract penalties of up to 6% of global annual turnover. "These new designations mean that ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox will now be held to a higher standard of scrutiny and accountability in the European Union," said Henna Virkkunen, executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy.
By the numbers: The designations bring the total under the DSA's strictest tier to 28. The regulation has already produced around €870 million in fines, including a record €550 million penalty against AliExpressDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → in July, €200 million against TemuDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → in May, and €120 million against X in December 2025.
The signal: Washington has taken a dim view of the EU's enforcement drive, with the Trump administration branding DMA fines on Apple and Meta a "novel form of economic extortion." Bringing three more American-owned services under direct Commission supervision could sharpen that friction.
Read more: euronews.com
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
