EU Designates ChatGPT as Very Large Online Search Engine
The commission's decision places ChatGPT in the same regulatory category as Google Search and Bing, a classification that treats AI chatbots answering queries as information services and extends the DSA's strictest tier beyond traditional keyword search engines.
Key Facts
- The European Commission designated OpenAI's ChatGPT as a very large online search engine under the Digital Services Act on August 31, 2026.
- The commission also designated Reddit and Roblox as very large online platforms in the same announcement.
- OpenAI reported about 159.1 million monthly average active recipients in the EU for the six months ending March 31, 2026, more than three times the 45 million threshold for designation.
- ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox have four months to comply with the additional obligations, including systemic risk assessments and annual independent audits.
- Violations of the DSA can draw fines of up to 6 percent of annual worldwide turnover.
Reporting from 2 sources: GIGAZINE, GameBusiness.jp.
The European Commission's August 31 announcement under the Digital Services Act placed three services under its strictest oversight tier. OpenAI's ChatGPT was classified as a very large online search engine, a category previously limited to Google Search and Bing, while Reddit and Roblox were designated as very large online platforms. The commission said ChatGPT qualifies as a hybrid service because it answers questions and runs web searches, and OpenAI reported about 159.1 million monthly average active recipients in the EU for the six months ending March 31, 2026, more than three times the 45 million threshold for designation. All three services have four months to comply with additional obligations, including evaluating systemic risks from their algorithms, addressing illegal content and harms to minors, and cooperating with commission investigations. Violations can draw fines of up to 6 percent of annual worldwide turnover. Henna Virkkunen, the commission's executive vice president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy, said the designations require the services to meet a higher standard of scrutiny and accountability. Reddit said it is preparing to meet the requirements, while OpenAI and Roblox had not commented at the time of reporting.
The systemic risks the commission wants assessed include the spread of illegal content, effects on minors, harm to users' mental and physical health, threats to fundamental rights such as free expression and privacy, and impacts on elections and public safety. Very large online search engines and platforms must also undergo at least one independent audit per year and provide data to authorities and to vetted researchers.
The commission supervises compliance together with national digital services coordinators. Fines for violations can reach 6 percent of annual worldwide turnover, scaled to the severity and duration of the breach. Virkkunen said the designations mean ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox face a higher standard of scrutiny and accountability matching their impact on citizens and society.
Reddit said it is committed to complying with the DSA and is preparing to meet the very large online platform requirements while working with EU regulators and maintaining transparency for users. OpenAI and Roblox had not published comments when the reports appeared. The commission said it will keep monitoring digital services and continue designating services that meet the threshold for enhanced oversight.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.