Meta’s WhatsApp has now gathered enough users to be designated a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), opening it up to stricter regulations in the region, reports Bloomberg.

WhatsApp has been officially designated as a Very Large Online Platform by the European Union. The designation means WhatsApp needs to moderate the app to tackle illegal content and public security risks.

WhatsApp has hit a user criterion set out in landmark EU tech rules, the unit owned by Meta Platforms said, meaning it is required to do more to tackle online illegal and harmful content. Messaging platform WhatsApp in a February 14 filing said it had about 46.

WhatsApp had about 46.8 million average monthly active users in the EU in the six-month period ending December 2024.

WhatsApp has been classified as a 'Very Large Online Platform' (VLOP) under the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA)- this states that it will have to adhere to the regulations of the nation to curb illegal and harmful content.

The messenger WhatsApp is threatened with classification as a Very Large Online Platform. This is due to the number of WhatsApp channel users.

Meta Platforms’s messaging service WhatsApp reached a crucial user milestone likely to bind it to more stringent rules under the European Union’s Digital Se

The commission, which is the EU's executive arm, has been increasing scrutiny of social media in an attempt to rein in the power of predominantly American tech companies

WhatsApp may face greater regulation in the European Union thanks to an increase in users on its open channels. The platform announced Friday that these feeds for news sources, public figures and more averaged approximately 46.

The DSA content moderation rulebook enforces stricter requirements on very large online platforms, exceeding 45 million EU-based monthly active users.