The European Union has included OpenAI’s ChatGPT under the scope of the Digital Services Act (DSA), marking the first time an AI chatbot has faced such a designation. Consequently, ChatGPT is now legally obligated to comply with enhanced safety regulations established by the EU.

The European Commission announced on the 31st (local time) that it has designated ChatGPT as a "very large search engine," alongside the online community Reddit and the gaming platform Roblox as "very large online platforms." The EU classifies search engines and platforms with over 45 million monthly active users within the region as "very large," subjecting them to additional regulations and oversight under the DSA.

Henna Virkkunen, the EU’s Executive Vice President for Tech Sovereignty, emphasized, "ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox will be subject to a higher level of supervision and accountability commensurate with their social influence." These three platforms must fulfill the obligations stipulated by the DSA within the next four months.

The EU explained that these obligations include preventing the spread of illegal content, protecting minors, safeguarding users' physical and mental health, respecting fundamental rights, and assessing and mitigating risks to electoral processes and public safety.

Analysts suggest that the EU's intensified regulations targeting U.S. tech companies are likely to lead to digital trade friction.

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