Meta has been given four months to ensure its WhatsApp messaging service complies with additional obligations under the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA) after being designated a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP), the European Commission said on Monday (26/1) as reported by Xinhua.
The European Commission officially designated WhatsApp as a VLOP after the platform's "Channels" feature reached a threshold of at least 45 million users in the EU.
Under the DSA, Meta now has until mid-May 2026 to ensure WhatsApp complies with stricter requirements, including the evaluation and mitigation of systemic risks. These risks include the spread of illegal content, election manipulation, and violations of human rights and freedom of expression.
The European Commission stated that WhatsApp is a "hybrid service" that combines private messaging and online platform features. Its "Channels" feature, which allows users to share updates with a wide audience, falls within the definition of an online platform service and is therefore subject to the general obligations of the DSA.
However, WhatsApp's private messaging service, which allows users to send text messages and make calls, remains expressly exempt from the DSA, the Commission stated.
