The European Union has classified WhatsApp as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under its Digital Services Act (DSA), setting a May 2026 deadline for full compliance.
This is according to a statement published on the European Commission’s website.
The designation follows WhatsApp’s expanding user base in the EU, where the platform records more than 51 million monthly active users, exceeding the DSA threshold for enhanced regulatory oversight.
According to the European Commission, platforms designated as VLOPs are required to take stronger measures to prevent the spread of disinformation, limit the manipulation of public opinion, and protect users, particularly minors.
The commission stated that Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, has four months, until mid-May 2026, to ensure the platform complies with the additional obligations that apply to Very Large Online Platforms.
The Commission said the supervision of the platform will be carried out in cooperation with Coimisiún na Meán, Ireland’s Digital Services Coordinator.
Other platforms designated as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) under the Digital Services Act include Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram, which were designated on 25 April 2023, as well as YouTube, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Shein, Wikipedia, and several other websites.
The Digital Services Act is a landmark EU law designed to regulate large online platforms and enforce accountability as part of efforts to create a safer online environment.