Brussels, January 26, 2026 — The European Commission has formally designated WhatsApp as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the Digital Services Act after determining that its Channels feature reaches at least 45 million monthly users in the European Union.
The designation is based solely on WhatsApp Channels, the functionality that allows accounts to disseminate information, updates and announcements to a broad audience of users. According to the Commission, this feature qualifies as an online platform service within the meaning of the DSA and is therefore subject to the regulation’s enhanced obligations for very large online platforms.
WhatsApp operates as a hybrid service combining private messaging with platform-style features. The Commission stressed that WhatsApp’s private messaging service — which enables users to exchange text messages, voice notes, photos, videos, and documents, and to make voice and video calls — remains explicitly excluded from the scope of the DSA.
Following the designation, Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, has four months to comply with the additional obligations applicable to VLOPs, setting a compliance deadline of mid-May 2026.
WhatsApp Obligations
As a designated VLOP, WhatsApp must now assess and mitigate systemic risks associated with the operation of its Channels feature. These risks include potential violations of fundamental rights, impacts on freedom of expression, electoral manipulation, the dissemination of illegal content, and privacy-related concerns.
The Digital Services Act imposes heightened due diligence and risk management requirements on very large online platforms, reflecting their scale, reach, and potential impact on public discourse and democratic processes in the EU.
Supervisory Oversight
With the designation in place, the European Commission becomes the competent authority responsible for supervising WhatsApp’s compliance with the DSA. The Commission will carry out this role in cooperation with Coimisiún na Meán, Ireland’s Digital Services Coordinator, given Meta’s establishment in Ireland.
The Commission did not indicate at this stage whether it has identified specific compliance concerns related to WhatsApp Channels. The designation itself does not imply any finding of non-compliance but triggers a stricter supervisory framework under the DSA.
