ChatGPT Search and Roblox Face EU's Toughest DSA Rules

The European Union (EU) is expanding its Digital Services Act (DSA) oversight to AI and gaming. OpenAI's ChatGPT Search and Roblox are reportedly next in line for the bloc's strictest online platform rules.

Bloomberg reported that the European Commission is preparing to designate ChatGPT Search as a Very Large Online Search Engine (VLOSE). Roblox is expected to be classified as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP). Both services crossed the EU's 45M monthly user threshold.

Reuters separately noted that Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated that such designations are "definitely possible" and could come "sooner or later." Bloomberg indicated that the formal announcement could come as early as August 2026.

If designated, both services will have four months to comply with the DSA.

How the EU's DSA Regulates Very Large Online Platforms

The DSA applies stricter rules to platforms and search engines with more than 45M monthly users in the EU. ChatGPT reportedly crossed 120M monthly users in Europe in 2025.

According to the European Commission, designated platforms and search engines must:

• Establish contact points for users and authorities.
• Report criminal offenses.
• Publish user-friendly terms and conditions.
• Ensure greater transparency around advertising, recommender systems, and content moderation.

Companies must identify and reduce systemic risks. These include illegal content, children's rights, public security, elections, public health, and fundamental rights. They should also complete annual independent audits.

Other requirements include internal compliance teams, public ad repositories, researcher data access, and recommendation systems that do not rely on user profiling. Companies that fail to comply can face fines of up to 6% of their global annual sales.

The Latest Move Follows Broader DSA Enforcement

ChatGPT Search and Roblox would join 21 companies already designated under the DSA. The list includes Amazon, X, Apple, LinkedIn, Microsoft, and TikTok. Since the law took effect in 2024, the European Commission has imposed nearly €900M (~$1.037B USD) in penalties on Temu, X, and AliExpress.

The Commission recently issued preliminary findings that TikTok's handling of content posted by minors could expose them to unwanted contact and cyberbullying. It also directed Meta to make WhatsApp interoperable with rival AI assistants.

Meanwhile, X has appealed its €120M (~$138M) DSA fine, arguing the investigation contained "grave procedural errors" and misinterpreted the law. X said that the case could set important legal precedents as the EU expands its oversight of AI services and online gaming platforms.