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EU Designates WhatsApp as Very Large Platform Under Digital Services Act

By  |  January 26, 2026

The European Commission on Monday formally classified Meta Platforms’ WhatsApp as a “very large online platform” under the European Union’s Digital Services Act, a move that increases the messaging service’s obligations to address illegal and harmful content, according to Reuters.

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    The designation follows a review of WhatsApp’s user data within the bloc. Per Reuters, the Commission determined that WhatsApp’s channels feature reached an average of 51.7 million monthly active users across the EU during the first half of 2025. That figure exceeds the 45 million–user threshold set by the DSA for platforms to fall under the law’s most stringent requirements.

    The Digital Services Act, which came into force to tighten oversight of major digital platforms, requires companies meeting the “very large” classification to adopt stronger measures to curb unlawful and harmful material, improve transparency, and assess systemic risks linked to their services. According to Reuters, the law applies not only to social networks but also to large online marketplaces and search engines.

    WhatsApp now joins a growing list of firms that have already been placed in this category. These include Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, Google’s YouTube, TikTok, online marketplace Temu, and Microsoft’s LinkedIn, per Reuters. All of them must follow enhanced compliance standards designed to protect users and ensure greater accountability.

    Related: Global Lawsuit Challenges Meta’s Claims About WhatsApp Privacy

    The Commission said it had been weighing the decision earlier this month after confirming WhatsApp’s user numbers surpassed the legal threshold. According to Reuters, the move reflects regulators’ increasing focus on messaging and social platforms that have expanded beyond private communication into broader content-sharing ecosystems.

    In a statement, the Commission said: “Following the designation, Meta, the provider of WhatsApp, has four months, i.e. by mid-May 2026, to ensure WhatsApp complies with the additional DSA obligations for VLOPs.” The deadline means Meta will need to quickly implement changes to meet the stricter rules.

    Per Reuters, the designation underscores the EU’s intent to enforce the DSA consistently across major digital services. Regulators view the law as a key tool to rein in the power of large platforms and ensure safer online spaces, particularly as messaging apps continue to grow in scale and influence across Europe.

    Source: Reuters