ChatGPT and Roblox will reportedly be subject to tighter rules in the EU
The EU is reportedly preparing to classify ChatGPT and Roblox as “very large online platforms” in August, bringing them under stricter obligations in the Digital Services Act. The designation matters because it would increase regulatory scrutiny of both services, particularly around user safety, transparency and the handling of harmful or illegal content.
Platforms receive the status when they have more than 45 million monthly EU users, and must meet requirements within four months, including risk assessments, annual audits, data access for regulators and vetted researchers, and clearer moderation and advertising policies. Roblox faces allegations and lawsuits over child safety, while OpenAI has faced criticism over reporting threats and lawsuits alleging insufficient safeguards for users at risk of suicide.
In short
- ChatGPT and Roblox reportedly face tougher EU platform rules.
- The designation requires stronger transparency and safety measures.
- Both companies face scrutiny over user protection.
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The case for
Supporters argue that services reaching tens of millions of Europeans should accept correspondingly robust duties, especially where children and vulnerable users may be exposed to harmful content or unsafe interactions. They contend that independent risk assessments, audits and researcher access can test companies’ safety claims, improve transparency and create incentives to address predictable harms before they become scandals or litigation. The underlying principle is that scale brings public responsibility, without necessarily dictating how platforms must design their products.
The case against
Critics argue that applying the very-largest-platform regime to AI tools and games may impose costly, ill-fitting compliance obligations on services that differ substantially from social-media platforms. They worry that broad duties around moderation, data access and risk management could expose sensitive user or proprietary information, encourage overly cautious content controls and slow useful innovation, particularly when legal standards remain uncertain. The underlying principle is that regulation should be proportionate, technologically informed and targeted at demonstrable risks rather than user numbers alone.
Explained simply
The European Union's Digital Services Act is a set of rules designed to make large technology platforms more accountable for what happens on their services. It requires platforms to be transparent about how they handle user data, moderate harmful content and manage advertising, with stricter requirements for the biggest services.
A platform is classified as "very large" under these rules if it has more than 45 million monthly users in Europe. Once classified, platforms must carry out risk assessments, submit to annual audits, provide data to EU regulators and independent researchers, and publish clearer policies on content moderation and advertising. ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot made by OpenAI, and Roblox, an online gaming platform where users create and play games, are both approaching this size threshold.
Both OpenAI and Roblox have faced concerns about user safety. OpenAI has faced criticism and lawsuits over safeguards for users at risk of suicide, whilst Roblox has faced allegations and lawsuits related to child safety. Under these stricter rules, both platforms would face greater scrutiny of their safety practices.