A crucial decision for ChatGPT: It is now a "search engine".

Source: https://www.chip.com.tr/guncel/chatgpt-icin-kritik-karar-o-artik-bir-arama-motoru_183361.html

ChatGPT's status in the European Union will now be evaluated in the same category as Google Search and Microsoft Bing. The European Commission has classified OpenAI's AI service as a "Very Large Online Search Engine" under the Digital Services Act (DSA).

With this decision, ChatGPT becomes the third service to be included in this category. The same announcement also included a different classification for Reddit and Roblox. Both platforms were given "Very Large Online Platform" status under the DSA.

In the European Union, digital services exceeding a certain user threshold are subject to stricter rules under the DSA. Services reaching at least 45 million monthly users can fall under this special status. There had been questions about ChatGPT's category for some time. The European Commission, which evaluated whether the service should be considered a platform in the classic sense or a search engine, ultimately decided in favor of a search engine.

The fact that ChatGPT has over 1 billion weekly users worldwide also demonstrates the scale of the service. With the new classification, OpenAI has entered a stricter regulatory framework that includes companies like Google and Microsoft.

The new obligations under the DSA are not only related to the number of users. ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox need to take measures to protect users from illegal and harmful content. They are also expected to reduce systemic risks that algorithms may create. Issues such as election security, child protection, and the mental well-being of users are also areas that companies need to pay attention to.

Severe penalties for non-compliance
The new status doesn't just impose additional responsibilities on companies. Failure to comply can also result in serious financial penalties. The European Union has given ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox a four-month period to comply with the necessary regulations. After this period, companies found to be violating the rules could face fines of up to 6% of their global annual revenue.

Thus, ChatGPT's legal position in Europe has also changed significantly. OpenAI's service will now be evaluated not only on the basis of its AI features but also within the framework of Europe's stricter regulations for digital platforms.