Reddit and Roblox face stricter EU rules after crossing 45m-user threshold

Reddit and Roblox will face tougher regulation in the European Union after growing large enough to fall under the strictest requirements of the bloc's Digital Services Act.

The European Commission has designated both companies as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs), a classification reserved for platforms reaching at least 45 million monthly users in the EU. Reddit reported 57.2 million monthly users, while Roblox reported 46.6 million.

ChatGPT has also crossed the threshold, with 159.1 million monthly users in the EU, and has been designated a Very Large Online Search Engine (VLOSE).

The designation means the three services will face additional requirements to identify and address risks linked to areas including illegal content, harms to minors, fundamental rights, elections and public security. They will also face greater scrutiny from the European Commission.

“These new designations mean that 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,” Henna Virkkunen, the Commission's executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy, said.

Roblox, where users can create and play experiences developed by other users, welcomed the designation and pointed to its recent growth in Europe.

“We are proud to be the first gaming platform to reach this milestone in the EU - growth driven by our developer community and backed by our commitment to fostering a safe, civil, and age-appropriate online experience,” Joost Hagesteijn, Roblox's Europe General Manager, told The Daily Influence.

“From pioneering age-check systems for chat and content, to default protections for younger players, safety is fundamental to everything we do and we look forward to continuing our constructive engagement with the European Commission.”

OpenAI said the designation applies specifically to ChatGPT's search service.

“ChatGPT search operates as a search service under the DSA, and we are preparing to meet the additional compliance requirements that come with this Very Large Online Search Engine designation,” an OpenAI spokesperson told The Daily Influence.

Reddit, Roblox and ChatGPT have four months to comply with the additional requirements.