Roblox and ChatGPT are reportedly slated for designation as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) under the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA). This classification, which applies to platforms with over 45 million monthly users, mandates significantly stricter operational rules.
The DSA requires VLOPs to implement greater transparency in their terms and conditions and improve reporting of illegal activities. If the designation proceeds, Roblox and ChatGPT will need to establish a point of contact for authorities and users, report criminal offenses, and provide clear user-friendly terms. Furthermore, they must ensure transparency regarding advertising, recommender systems, and content moderation decisions.
Beyond these immediate requirements, the platforms will be obligated to identify, analyze, and assess systemic risks associated with illegal content, fundamental rights (including freedom of expression, media pluralism, non-discrimination, consumer protection, and children's rights), public security, electoral processes, gender-based violence, public health, and the mental and physical wellbeing of users.
Following risk identification, Roblox and ChatGPT will be compelled to mitigate these issues. This could involve adapting service design, modifying recommender systems, establishing internal compliance functions, undergoing annual audits by independent auditors, and implementing recommended changes. They will also be required to share data with the EU Commission and national authorities for monitoring and assessment purposes. Additionally, vetted researchers will be granted access to platform data to aid in detecting and understanding systemic risks within the EU. A key requirement includes offering a recommender system option that does not rely on user profiling, and maintaining a publicly accessible repository of advertisements.
These potential regulations arrive amidst ongoing concerns surrounding both platforms. Roblox has faced criticism for years regarding the risk of children's exposure to inappropriate content and predatory behavior, with the LA County suing Roblox Corporation in February over allegations of creating an unsafe environment. ChatGPT, alongside other large language models, has raised significant societal questions about its impact on academia, literature, and communication, with reports of misuse ranging from alleged user harm to corporate executives misusing the technology.