The European Commission designated ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Search Engine (VLOSE) on August 31, 2026, the first generative AI chatbot to receive this classification. This designation subjects OpenAI to the strictest online safety obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA), with a compliance deadline set for the end of December 2026. The 45 million average monthly EU user threshold was surpassed, with ChatGPT reaching approximately 159.1 million users in the six-month period ending March 31, 2026, a 32% increase from 120.4 million in early 2026. Designated platforms must conduct annual systemic risk assessments along with mandatory independent third-party audits. Non-compliance with DSA regulations can result in fines of up to 6% of global annual turnover.
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