The European Commission has placed ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox under its strictest designations under the Digital Services Act. In a first for an AI chatbot, Brussels has classified ChatGPT as a search engine, while Reddit and Roblox have been designated as Very Large Online Platforms.
These designations follow explosive growth in the European Union, with all three platforms surpassing a threshold of 45 million average monthly users in the bloc. This growth now subjects the companies to stricter European Union scrutiny and a new regulatory burden.
ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox have four months to comply with additional obligations under the act. These requirements include mitigating negative effects on the physical and mental well-being of their users.
This decision sets a precedent for future AI system oversight in the EU, marking the first time an AI chatbot has been categorized as a search engine under these regulations.