ChatGPT, the popular artificial intelligence chatbot created by OpenAI, could soon face the European Union’s strictest online platform rules. The move follows its rapid rise to more than 120 million monthly users across Europe, according to data released earlier this week.
Under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), platforms with over 45 million monthly users are classed as “very large online platforms.” These services must meet tougher transparency requirements, pay higher regulatory fees, and take greater responsibility for preventing illegal or harmful content online.
Other platforms already under these rules include Amazon, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. If ChatGPT is added, it would become the 26th platform subject to the DSA’s strict oversight.
An EU Commission spokesperson said on Wednesday that officials were reviewing OpenAI’s reported user numbers. “It could potentially be in the scope of the DSA,” the spokesperson explained, adding that each assessment is carried out on a case-by-case basis.
OpenAI reported that “for the six-month period ending 30 September 2025, ChatGPT search had approximately 120.4 million average monthly active recipients in the European Union.”
The Commission uses figures provided by the companies themselves to determine if they meet the legal threshold.
If classified under the DSA, ChatGPT would face closer monitoring from Brussels, where investigations are already underway into platforms like TikTok and Facebook for possible breaches.
This development underscores the growing regulatory attention on fast-growing AI tools and their influence across Europe.
