EU to make WhatsApp more responsible for tackling harmful content

The European Commission has formally designated Meta-owned WhatsApp as a “very large online platform” under the EU’s Digital Services Act, increasing its responsibility for addressing illegal and harmful content. The designation specifically applies to WhatsApp’s channels feature, not to its core private messaging service.

According to the Commission, WhatsApp channels reached an average of 51.7 million monthly active users in the European Union during the first half of 2025, exceeding the 45 million user threshold set by the DSA. Platforms above this limit are subject to stricter obligations, including enhanced risk assessments and stronger measures to limit the spread of illegal content.

The Digital Services Act requires very large platforms to invest more heavily in content moderation systems, a process that can be costly due to the scale of data involved and that also raises concerns around user privacy. Other companies already classified under the same category include Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, Google’s YouTube, TikTok, Temu and Microsoft’s LinkedIn.

Following the designation, Meta has four months to bring WhatsApp channels into full compliance with the additional DSA requirements, setting a deadline of mid-May 2026. A WhatsApp spokesperson said the company remains committed to improving safety and integrity measures as its channels continue to grow across the EU and globally.