WhatsApp is now officially a “Very Large Online Platform” (VLOP) in the European Union, a move that puts it under stricter rules from the Digital Services Act (DSA). This designation, reported by Bloomberg, means the EU Commission will have more power to oversee how WhatsApp handles content and shares data. While the Commission hasn’t made a public announcement yet, sources say Meta has already been informed.
This new label isn’t a huge shock. WhatsApp revealed in February that it had around 46.8 million active users in the EU during the latter half of 2024. The DSA sets a clear limit: any platform with more than 45 million monthly users in the EU gets the VLOP tag. So, WhatsApp crossing that user threshold made this designation almost certain.
Being a VLOP comes with several new responsibilities for WhatsApp. For example, it will need to get an independent audit every year to check its operations. The platform also has to be more open about its advertising practices. These rules are designed to make online platforms more accountable and protect users in the EU.
It’s important to note that this new label specifically applies to WhatsApp’s open channels feature. Your individual private messages will not be affected at all. They will remain private and secure between you and the people you’re chatting with. The DSA aims to regulate the public-facing parts of these platforms, not personal communications.
WhatsApp is joining other big names like Amazon, Google, and ByteDance, as well as its Meta siblings Facebook and Instagram, in receiving this VLOP designation. This shows the EU’s ongoing effort to bring major tech companies under its regulatory umbrella to ensure a safer and more transparent digital environment for its citizens.
