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EU Places ChatGPT, Reddit, Roblox Under Strictest DSA Regulation Tier — AI-generated representative image: The European Commission's Berlaymont headquarters in Brussels, where ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox were designated under the DSA

Editorial Team

Digital Services Act designations impose heightened content moderation on US platforms, fueling transatlantic free speech tensions

The European Commission has designated ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox under the strictest tier of the Digital Services Act (DSA), giving the three US-based services until the end of December to comply with heightened oversight requirements.

ChatGPT was classified as a Very Large Online Search Engine (VLOSE), while Reddit and Roblox were named Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs). Each service reported at least 45 million average monthly users in the EU, crossing the threshold for the most stringent regulations.

The move places some of the world's most widely used digital services under obligations to assess and mitigate "systemic risks" linked to illegal content, minors, and fundamental rights. It also sharpens an ongoing dispute between Brussels and Washington, where officials have described the EU's digital rules as a form of censorship.

For the companies involved, non-compliance carries significant financial consequences, with fines reaching up to 6% of annual global turnover.

New Designations and Compliance Deadlines

The European Commission announced the designations on Monday, expanding the list of platforms subject to the DSA's most demanding requirements. The three services must now assess and mitigate systemic risks across several areas, including illegal content, the protection of minors, users' physical and mental well-being, fundamental rights, elections, and public security.

None of the three companies has publicly challenged the designation. OpenAI and Reddit said they were preparing to comply with the new requirements, while Roblox pledged to continue working "constructively" with Brussels.

Transatlantic Friction Over Digital Rules

The DSA and its competition-focused sister law, the Digital Markets Act (DMA), have become a major source of friction between the EU and Washington. US President Donald Trump has ordered officials to scrutinize EU digital rules that could require American companies to moderate content in ways that "undermine freedom of speech and political engagement."

Vice President J.D. Vance has similarly accused Europe of retreating from free speech, telling the Munich Security Conference last year that "digital censorship" is being presented as a defense of democracy and warning that free speech is "in retreat" across Europe. Brussels has maintained that the law makes powerful platforms safer and more accountable, while critics argue its broad demands pressure companies to suppress lawful speech to avoid punishment.

Industry Criticism and Official Responses

X owner Elon Musk has been among the DSA's most vocal critics. He accused the European Commission of offering X an "illegal secret deal" under which the platform could avoid punishment by "quietly" censoring speech, a claim Brussels denied.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has also accused the EU of using the DSA to expand censorship. In April, he argued that Brussels is relying on sympathetic non-governmental organizations and media outlets to justify increased online surveillance and restrictions, warning that such campaigns are being used to "take away what's left of our freedoms."

What Comes Next

The three services now face a compliance deadline at the end of December. They are expected to submit risk assessments and implement mitigation measures aligned with the DSA's requirements. OpenAI and Reddit have indicated they are preparing to meet the new obligations, while Roblox has committed to continued cooperation with European regulators. Whether any of the companies will formally contest the designations remains unclear.

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