Brussels, February 17, 2025 – WhatsApp may soon face further regulatory scrutiny in the European Union after its open channels for news sources and public figures surpassed 46.8 million monthly users in the region during the latter half of 2024.
This milestone pushes the platform over the 45-million user threshold that classifies it as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA).
Under the DSA, entities designated as VLOPs are subject to a range of enhanced regulatory requirements. These include stringent standards for transparent advertising, robust content moderation protocols, annual independent audits, and mandatory data sharing with EU authorities. Additionally, platforms must actively assess and mitigate risks associated with harmful or illegal content.
WhatsApp’s parent company, Meta, is already designated as a VLOP alongside other major tech firms such as ByteDance, Amazon, and Google. The European Commission now faces the decision of whether to extend this designation to WhatsApp’s open channels—a move that could impose further obligations on the widely used messaging service.
This development is part of the EU’s broader initiative to reinforce digital accountability among large online platforms, aiming to safeguard public interests and ensure a safer online environment. As the Commission deliberates, stakeholders and users alike will be watching closely to see how any new regulations might impact WhatsApp’s operations within the EU.
Russia is open to listening to new proposals on how to reach a settlement on the Ukraine conflict, a senior Russia...
Seven countries have condemned Israel’s decision to open construction tenders for more than 1,200 homes under its E1 settlement project in th...
An international conference in Baku on 21 August will put Belgium’s colonial record in Africa under renewed scrutiny. Officials, United Natio...
The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th of August, covering the latest developments.
Five years after Evergrande's debt crisis rattled global markets, founder Hui Ka Yan has been sentenced to life in prison, marking a dramatic new chapter in the downfall of China's former property giant.
An artificial intelligence agent running an experimental store in San Francisco has recommended dismissing a human employee after the worker repeatedly arrived late for shifts.
Nvidia is teaming up with some of the biggest names in global finance in a move that underscores how artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming one of the world's most sought-after investment themes.
Parts of Europe and the Arctic will briefly fall into darkness on Wednesday, 12 August, as the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun in a total solar eclipse.
Meta said one of its AI models hacked another company's systems during cybersecurity testing, intensifying concerns about how developers can contain increasingly capable AI systems following similar incidents involving Anthropic and OpenAI.
Scientists say the accidental crash of a discarded SpaceX rocket stage into the moon has provided valuable data on impact cratering while posing no threat to Earth or lunar hardware.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment