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.
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