The European Union has officially designated WhatsApp as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under its Digital Services Act (DSA), triggering stricter regulatory obligations for the messaging service.
The European Commission announced the classification on its website, citing WhatsApp’s growing user base in the bloc. The platform now records more than 51 million monthly active users in the EU, exceeding the DSA threshold for enhanced oversight.
Under the designation, Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, has four months—until mid-May 2026—to ensure the platform complies with additional requirements imposed on VLOPs.
According to the Commission, these obligations include assessing and mitigating systemic risks such as the spread of illegal content, electoral manipulation, violations of fundamental rights, and threats to user privacy, particularly for minors.
Regulatory supervision of WhatsApp will be carried out in cooperation with Ireland’s media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, which serves as the country’s Digital Services Coordinator.
WhatsApp joins a growing list of platforms classified as VLOPs, including Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Shein, and Wikipedia.
The Commission is currently investigating Facebook and Instagram over potential failures to protect minors under the DSA. Separately, it has opened and expanded investigations into X, including a probe into risks linked to the deployment of its AI chatbot, Grok, particularly around the spread of illegal and harmful content.
