The European Commission is preparing to designate both Roblox and OpenAI's ChatGPT as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) under the Digital Services Act. Any service with over 45 million monthly users falls into this category, meaning the two platforms will have to meet a suite of new compliance requirements.
As VLOPs, Roblox and ChatGPT must set up a contact point for authorities, report criminal offenses, and publish user‑friendly terms and conditions. They also need to be transparent about advertising, recommender systems, and content moderation. The law forces them to identify, analyse, and assess systemic risks—including illegal content, fundamental rights, public security, and the wellbeing of minors—then take concrete steps to mitigate those risks. Additional duties include an internal compliance function, an annual independent audit, data sharing with regulators, researcher access for risk‑related studies, a non‑profiling recommendation option, and a public ad repository.
Both services have drawn scrutiny: Roblox faces lawsuits over child safety, while ChatGPT has been linked to misinformation and legal disputes. The DSA aims to curb such issues, though its impact remains to be seen, especially after X’s mixed compliance record.
If the designation proceeds, the platforms will likely redesign aspects of their services and face ongoing oversight, offering a test case for how the EU’s new rules shape online safety and transparency.
