The European Union is reportedly preparing to bring ChatGPT and Roblox under its toughest online platform regulations. According to a Bloomberg report, both services are expected to be designated as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) as early as August. If confirmed, the move would place them alongside digital giants such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, WhatsApp and Google’s major services, all of which are already subject to the bloc’s highest level of regulatory oversight.
The designation reflects the growing influence of both platforms across Europe. Under the DSA, online services with more than 45 million monthly active users in the European Union qualify for VLOP status, triggering a wide range of additional compliance obligations designed to improve transparency, user safety and platform accountability.
What VLOP Status Means For ChatGPT And Roblox
Receiving VLOP status doesn’t simply acknowledge a platform’s popularity—it also introduces significantly stricter regulatory responsibilities. Once officially designated, companies have four months to comply with the Digital Services Act’s enhanced requirements.
Among those obligations, ChatGPT and Roblox would need to establish dedicated points of contact for both regulators and users, publish clearer and more accessible terms of service, and increase transparency around advertising practices, recommendation algorithms and content moderation decisions. They would also be expected to report certain criminal offences to the relevant authorities when required under the regulation.
The Digital Services Act goes even further by requiring platforms to identify and assess risks associated with their services. That includes evaluating the spread of illegal content, potential interference in democratic processes, gender-based violence, discrimination, threats to freedom of expression and media freedom. After identifying those risks, companies must implement measures aimed at reducing or preventing them.
Compliance doesn’t end there. VLOPs are also expected to maintain internal compliance systems, undergo annual independent audits, share relevant operational data with the European Commission and provide approved academic researchers with access to certain datasets to help study systemic online risks.
Increased Scrutiny Comes Amid Ongoing Safety Concerns
The reported decision arrives as both platforms continue to face growing scrutiny over user safety and moderation practices.
Roblox has been criticised in recent years over allegations that it has not done enough to protect younger users from harmful interactions. The gaming platform has faced multiple lawsuits and regulatory attention concerning child safety, with critics arguing that stronger safeguards are needed to prevent inappropriate behaviour and exploitation within its online ecosystem. Roblox has introduced additional parental controls and safety features over time, but concerns about protecting children remain a major topic of discussion.
OpenAI has also faced increased attention regarding ChatGPT’s safety policies. Earlier this year, the company received criticism after reports emerged that it did not notify authorities when it banned a ChatGPT account linked to the suspect in the 2025 Tumbler Ridge mass shooting. Following the incident, OpenAI said it would report credible threats of violence to the appropriate authorities when necessary.
Separately, the company has been named in lawsuits filed by families of users who died by suicide, with the legal complaints alleging that ChatGPT lacked sufficient safeguards for vulnerable users. OpenAI has continued to expand its safety policies, introduce additional protections and refine how the chatbot responds to high-risk conversations, while maintaining that user safety remains a priority.
Why The Decision Matters
If ChatGPT and Roblox officially receive VLOP designation, it would represent another major step in the European Union’s effort to regulate large digital platforms under the Digital Services Act. Since the legislation came into force, Brussels has increasingly focused on ensuring that the world’s biggest online services are more transparent about how their platforms operate and how they manage risks affecting millions of users.
For OpenAI, the designation would further cement ChatGPT’s position as one of the most widely used AI services in Europe while placing it under stricter regulatory oversight. For Roblox, it would increase pressure to demonstrate that its safety systems can adequately protect its large community, particularly younger players.
Neither company has officially announced changes related to the reported designation. However, if the European Commission proceeds with the classification in August, users across the EU are likely to see updated policies, transparency reports and additional compliance measures rolled out over the following months.
