WhatsApp Channels face strict EU digital rules after designation

2026-01-26 - 21:38

WhatsApp Channels, the broadcast feature of the popular messaging app, has been formally designated by the European Commission as a "very large online platform" (VLOP) under the EU's Digital Services Act. The announcement, made on Monday, subjects the feature to the bloc's most stringent digital content regulations. Strict Obligations Under the DSA The designation requires WhatsApp Channels to adhere to a comprehensive set of obligations under the EU's Digital Services Act. These include conducting rigorous systemic risk assessments related to the spread of illegal content, implementing robust content moderation processes, and providing detailed transparency reports to regulators. Henna Virkkunen, the EU's executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, confirmed the move, stating the platform had surpassed the 45 million monthly user threshold in the EU during the latter half of 2024. "It's therefore already subject to general DSA obligations that online platforms in the EU must respect," she said. Failure to comply can result in substantial fines, potentially reaching up to 6% of a company's global annual turnover. Scope Limited to Broadcast Feature Officials were careful to clarify the limits of the new rules. The EU Commission emphasized that this designation applies specifically to WhatsApp Channels—a one-to-many broadcast tool—and not to the app's core private messaging service. This distinction keeps personal, encrypted conversations outside the immediate scope of the DSA's content moderation requirements, a key point for user privacy. Part of Broader EU Tech Enforcement Push This decision is part of a wider enforcement drive by EU regulators. The same day, the Commission announced a separate investigation under the DSA into Grok, an AI platform from the company X, over concerns about its potential to generate fake images. This action follows a precedent-setting €120 million fine imposed on X in December 2026 for breaching the DSA's transparency rules, signaling the EU's commitment to actively policing its digital rulebook.