Rumor has it that ChatGPT and Roblox will be “strictly regulated” by the European Union! The identity of a very large online platform may put tremendous pressure on compliance

The Zhitong Finance App learned that since ChatGPT, a subsidiary of OpenAI, and the video game company Roblox (RBLX.US) have more than 45 million monthly active users in the EU region, these two US technology companies are expected to be subject to stricter scrutiny and supervision requirements under EU content regulation rules. A source familiar with the matter revealed that the EU administration will recognize these two US technology companies as “Very Large Online Platforms” (VLOps) under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The person familiar with the matter said that the verdict is likely to be announced in August as soon as possible.

The European Union's Digital Services Act requires all social networking and search engine platforms to crack down on illegal and harmful content on their platforms. Businesses identified as “mega-large online platforms” — which also include Meta Platforms (META.US) and Elon Musk's X — must also submit transparency reports detailing risk mitigation plans and pay annual fees to the European Commission. Businesses that violate the Digital Services Act could face fines equal to up to 6% of their annual global sales.

One of the goals of the European Union's Digital Services Act is to protect the user experience by requiring technology companies to protect the user experience, in particular to protect children's online safety. Roblox has previously been criticized for child safety and protection measures, and has recently strengthened relevant controls, including restrictions on who children can communicate with and what games they can participate in. At the same time, Roblox is also further expanding its advertising business, and the Digital Services Act wants to improve the transparency of marketing activities aimed at children.

Since the Digital Services Act came into effect in 2022, the European Commission has launched more than a dozen investigations into online platforms. These rules have sparked discontent from US President Trump. The US government accuses the European Union of imposing censorship and restrictions on US companies. In December of last year, X was fined 120 million euros (about 137 million US dollars) by the European Union for misleading design and lack of transparency.

It is worth mentioning that in addition to the Digital Services Act, the EU is also “punching” a number of US tech giants with various regulations such as the Digital Market Act (DMA) and the Anti-Monopoly Act. Since the beginning of 2024, Google, Apple, and Meta have been fined more than 6 billion euros (about 7 billion US dollars) by the European Union, involving various charges of anti-monopoly and competition law violations. Trump has raised this issue to the level of trade policy. In February of this year, he signed a memorandum clearly stating that he will consider using tariffs to respond to digital services taxes and fines imposed by foreign governments on US companies.

However, the European Commission maintains that the goal of its regulatory framework is to protect consumers rather than suppress innovation. A committee spokesman said fines were a “last resort” and would only be resorted to after the search for an amicable solution had failed.

The committee also cited regulatory results — after the European Union initiated formal procedures based on the DMA in March 2025, Apple allowed rival smart watches and other connected devices to connect more smoothly with iPhones. This move was achieved without the use of fines. Meta, on the other hand, revised its “pay or consent” plan on Facebook and Instagram after receiving a 2 million euro DMA non-compliance fine in 2025, and will launch a new service to users in early 2026. However, Apple insists that DMA “hinders innovation, weakens privacy protection, delays or reduces the quality of product launches, and increases security risks.”