EU Designates WhatsApp Channels as VLOP Under DSA

The European Commission has designated WhatsApp's Channels feature as a very large online platform under the bloc's Digital Services Act, subjecting it to enhanced obligations for content moderation and risk management. The announcement, made on Monday, requires Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, to ensure compliance within four months, by mid-May.

WhatsApp's Channels, a broadcast tool that allows administrators to share updates in a public feed similar to social media timelines, surpassed the DSA's threshold of 45 million monthly active users in the European Union. The platform reported an average of 51.7 million users for its Channels in the first half of 2025, qualifying it for the designation despite WhatsApp's core messaging service remaining exempt due to its end-to-end encryption.

Under the DSA, which took effect in 2023, very large online platforms must conduct regular risk assessments to address systemic threats such as illegal content, disinformation, and harm to users' mental health, particularly among minors. They are also required to report user figures every six months and take proactive steps to mitigate issues like the spread of harmful material or manipulation of...