The European Commission announced on Monday that US-based platforms ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox will now face stricter data protection rules after surpassing a key user threshold.

With all three platforms now having over 45 million average monthly users in the European Union, they are obliged to assess and mitigate potential risks related to illegal content, protection of minors, and users' mental health.

The Digital Services Act (DSA), which came into effect across the bloc in February, has already been applied to companies such as TikTok and Meta. ChatGPT has now become the first AI chatbot to fall under the law's jurisdiction.

Roblox, a user-generated content gaming platform, is now categorized as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP), as is Reddit. Owned by OpenAI, ChatGPT is also subject to European AI regulations.

The EU regime has stepped up its scrutiny of tech giants and social media in recent years, including telling TikTok that it must change its addictive design or risk being banned across the bloc. Critics argue that these measures, while ostensibly aimed at protecting users, may stifle innovation and impose heavy compliance costs on companies, potentially harming the digital economy in Europe.

Source: www.dw.com