On August 31, 2026, the European Commission announced that it has formally designated ChatGPT, provided by OpenAI, as a "Very Large Online Search Engine (VLOSE)" under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The VLOSE designation is the strictest regulatory category under the DSA, applying to services with an average of more than 45 million monthly active users within the EU.
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European Commission Formally Designates ChatGPT as Very Large Online Search Engine under DSA
This article is a translation. Read the Japanese original
With this designation, OpenAI is now subject to additional obligations, including conducting risk assessments and implementing mitigation measures regarding the impact of ChatGPT on minors and users' mental health, as well as the dissemination of illegal content, and undergoing independent audits. The DSA also prohibits advertising targeting directed at minors, or targeting based on sexual orientation, religion, race, or political beliefs, and requires transparency regarding the operation of recommendation algorithms.
On the same day, the European Commission designated Reddit and Roblox as "Very Large Online Platforms (VLOP)."
Sources
- ChatGPT to face tougher regulation in the EU （The Verge AI）
- EUがChatGPTを「超大規模オンライン検索エンジン」に正式指定、OpenAIにリスク評価や独立監査など追加義務 （GIGAZINE）