Meta’s messaging app WhatsApp could soon be subject to deeper scrutiny under the European Commission’s Digital Services Act, according to recent statements from EU officials.
WhatsApp Channels Cross Critical User Threshold
The potential regulatory shift centers on WhatsApp Channels, the app’s broadcasting feature that allows users to make one-sided posts to followers. This feature has grown to approximately 51.7 million average monthly active users in the European Union during the first six months of 2025, exceeding the 45-million-user threshold that triggers Digital Services Act compliance requirements.
Once a platform reaches 45 million monthly users, it is officially designated as a “very large online platform” (VLOP) under European Commission rules, subjecting it to stricter DSA regulations.
What This Means for WhatsApp
The Digital Services Act is a European Union regulation that sets out rules for online platforms to ensure user safety and accountability, particularly regarding harmful and illegal content. The European Commission is actively considering designating WhatsApp a “very large platform,” which would increase its legal responsibilities.
A commission spokesperson confirmed in a Friday briefing: “So here we would indeed designate potentially WhatsApp for WhatsApp Channels and I can confirm that the Commission is actively looking into it and I wouldn’t exclude a future designation.”
Compliance and Penalties
Companies that fail to comply with Digital Services Act requirements face significant financial consequences, with fines reaching up to six percent of their global annual revenue. This represents a substantial incentive for Meta to ensure WhatsApp Channels comply with EU content moderation and transparency standards.
WhatsApp’s traditional function as a private messaging service has historically distinguished it from other social platforms, but Channels operates much like Meta’s other social media services, making it subject to the same regulatory oversight.
What Comes Next
The Commission’s formal designation of WhatsApp Channels as a VLOP is not yet finalized but appears increasingly likely. Meta has not yet publicly commented on the potential reclassification, though such a designation would require the company to implement additional content moderation, data protection, and transparency measures aligned with EU digital regulation standards.
This development reflects the EU’s broader approach to regulating large digital platforms, ensuring they maintain responsibility for combating illegal and harmful content while protecting user rights across the bloc.