Brussels: ChatGPT will face tougher regulatory scrutiny in the European Union after the European Commission classified it as a “very large” online platform under the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), marking the first such designation for an AI chatbot.

The European Union also placed Reddit and Roblox under the same category, subjecting all three services to additional legal obligations and oversight.

“ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox will now be held to a higher standard of scrutiny and accountability in the European Union, in line with their large impact on our citizens and society,” EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen said.

The designation applies to online platforms and search engines that have more than 45 million monthly active users across the 27 EU member states. According to the European Commission, ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox have each reported reaching that threshold.

The three platforms now have four months to meet the additional requirements under the DSA, the EU's wide-ranging law aimed at addressing risks and responsibilities associated with major digital platforms.

What the new EU rules mean for ChatGPT

As part of the process of bringing ChatGPT under the DSA framework, the European Commission has classified it as a search engine.

The new obligations require the designated services to assess and reduce systemic risks linked to their platforms and algorithmic systems. These include the spread of illegal content, potential harm to minors, effects on users’ physical and mental well-being, fundamental rights, electoral processes and public security.

The move could have implications beyond ChatGPT, particularly for other large generative AI services operating in the EU.

Lena-Maria Boswald of German technology think tank Interface said the decision could establish a precedent and influence regulatory expectations for other large generative AI systems used in the European Union.

OpenAI already faces risk-management requirements under the EU's AI Act, but the Digital Services Act could expand the scope of its regulatory responsibilities, Boswald said.

Reddit and Roblox also face increased oversight

The new classification also covers Roblox, the gaming platform where users can create games and share them with others, and Reddit, the online discussion and forum platform.

The EU's decision comes as Brussels continues to tighten enforcement of its digital regulations, including against some of the world's largest technology companies.

The European Commission recently ordered TikTok, which is among the roughly 30 other platforms already covered by the “very large” designation, to address what it considered addictive design or risk facing heavy fines.

Last year, the EU also fined Elon Musk's social media platform X 120 million euros ($138 million) over breaches of transparency requirements and other violations.

With AFP inputs