# The EU Treats ChatGPT Search as Google-Scale Infrastructure

Times of AI Desk · 2026-08-31 · Policy

[https://timesof.ai/2026/08/eu-dsa-chatgpt-vlose-designation](https://timesof.ai/2026/08/eu-dsa-chatgpt-vlose-designation)

> The European Commission designated ChatGPT a Very Large Online Search Engine under the DSA — the first AI chatbot in that tier — after measuring ~159.1 million average monthly EU users. Four months to comply; fines up to 6% of global turnover. Same package: Reddit and Roblox as VLOPs.

Brussels just treated **ChatGPT search** as **Google-scale infrastructure**. That pulls ads, ranking, and researcher access into DSA process on the same day OpenAI printed a **$1B ads ARR** run rate.

The **European Commission** designated **ChatGPT** a **Very Large Online Search Engine (VLOSE)** under the **Digital Services Act** — the **first AI chatbot** in that tier. Same package: **Reddit** and **Roblox** as **VLOPs**. Threshold: **≥45 million** average monthly EU users. ChatGPT **search** AMAR: **~159.1 million** for the six months ending **31 March 2026**. **Four months** to comply: systemic-risk assessments (illegal content, minors, wellbeing, elections, public security), researcher data access, ad archive. Fines up to **6%** of global turnover. **Henna Virkkunen**: higher scrutiny “in line with their large impact.” Legal theory: **web search inside the chatbot = search engine**.

## What the designation does

| Item | Commission 31 Aug 2026 |
|------|------------------------|
| **Status** | **VLOSE** (not VLOP) |
| **Clock** | **4 months** to the full obligation set |
| **Peers named** | **Reddit, Roblox** as VLOPs |
| **Not** | An **AI Act** GPAI decision (that clock started **Aug 2**) |

Not the August 2 **AI Act** enforcement start, not the August 18 **ChatGPT Ads Europe** rollout — different statute, different clock.

## Limits

- Designation is Commission action; OpenAI’s risk-assessment filing is not yet public.
- Whether **Claude / Gemini** get the same label next is not decided here.
- VLOSE obligations and AI Act GPAI duties run on separate calendars.

## Sources

- [European Commission: Commission designates ChatGPT, Reddit, Roblox under the Digital Services Act (August 31, 2026)](https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/commission-designates-chatgpt-reddit-roblox-under-digital-services-act)
- [Euractiv: OpenAI’s ChatGPT falls under strictest EU online rules](https://www.euractiv.com/news/openais-chatgpt-falls-under-strictest-eu-online-rules/)
- [The Decoder: ChatGPT now faces stricter EU oversight as a very large search engine](https://the-decoder.com/chatgpt-now-faces-stricter-eu-oversight-as-a-very-large-search-engine/)