Why have ChatGPT and Roblox become the targets of Europe's toughest regulations?

Imagine if the metaverse game ‘Roblox’, which children log into every day, or ‘ChatGPT’, which helps with homework and writing, were under the same strict management and protection as a local public library or playground. The European Union (EU) recently determined that these platforms, which have become deeply integrated into our lives, need to become safer spaces.

The European Union is set to designate ChatGPT and Roblox as targets for its strictest level of platform regulation [Source 1, Source 3]. This news is not merely a technical change; it signifies that the rules for the digital spaces we use every day are fundamentally changing.

Why does this matter?

This decision directly impacts our daily lives. The fact that widely used services must follow ‘stricter rules’ means that companies must transparently disclose every aspect of their service operations. Since these services are heavily used by children and teenagers, a core goal of this regulation is to prevent exposure to inappropriate content and protect data safely [Source 3].

For companies, major changes in how they operate are necessary. This is because they will have to bear enormous costs if they break the rules. This creates a powerful incentive for companies to treat user protection and safety issues not as ‘optional’ but as ‘mandatory priorities.’

Understanding it simply

Let’s use an analogy. Imagine a small neighborhood corner store suddenly becoming a massive, nationwide supermarket chain. When the store was small, the owner’s intuition was enough to manage it, but when a supermarket attracts tens of millions of people, the situation changes. Guidelines must be set from entrance to exit, firefighters must be stationed to prevent accidents, and what is sold must be meticulously recorded.

The same applies to ChatGPT and Roblox. They have moved beyond the stage of experimenting with technology and have become massive digital platforms with monthly active users well over 45 million [Source 2]. When you have this many users, you gain the responsibility to operate the system systematically, like a ‘large supermarket.’ The Digital Services Act (DSA) introduced by the EU is essentially this ‘large supermarket operations manual.’

It includes key rules such as:

• Content Management: You must monitor and manage the spread of harmful information.
• Ensuring Transparency: You must disclose detailed information about how the service operates to the government and users [Source 2].
• Risk Mitigation: You must predict potential accidents in the service and establish preventive measures [Source 3].

Current Situation

Currently, ChatGPT and Roblox have secured over 45 million monthly users within the European Union [Source 2]. This proves that they are not just services, but key infrastructure that European citizens rely on in their daily lives. Therefore, this regulatory designation is virtually certain, and once completed, they must comply with the strict rules mentioned above [Source 4]. If they fail to do so, they could face fines of up to 6% of their global revenue [Source 3].

What happens next?

Moving forward, ChatGPT and Roblox will need to regularly submit transparency reports and take concrete measures to strengthen child safety [Source 2, Source 3].

We should keep an eye on the following changes:

1. Strengthened Safety: Blocking of inappropriate content targeted at children will become more sophisticated.
2. Operational Changes: As companies spend money on regulatory compliance, there may be changes to service policies or monetization models.
3. Global Standard: The European case has a significant impact on the digital policies of other countries. It is highly likely that the services we use will adopt higher levels of protection standards globally.

AI Opinion

It is a natural progression in modern digital society that massive platforms must bear public responsibility once they cross a certain threshold of user numbers. This regulation is a prime example of the EU’s strong will to protect children in AI and metaverse spaces. When corporate transparency is ensured, user trust will also be built.

References

1. EU to place ChatGPT and Roblox under strictest platform rules
2. ChatGPT and Roblox surpass 45 million monthly users in the EU
3. ChatGPT, Roblox to fall under strictest EU rules for platforms
4. ChatGPT and Roblox will be subjected to the EU’s content moderation rules