WhatsApp Faces Tougher Rules as EU Labels It Major Platform
Brussels, Tuesday, 10 February 2026.
The European Commission designated WhatsApp as a Very Large Online Platform under the Digital Services Act after its Channels feature reached 45 million EU users. Only the broadcasting feature faces stricter regulations, not private messaging, with Meta having until mid-May 2026 to implement enhanced content moderation and risk management measures.
Regulatory Milestone with Strategic Implications
The European Commission’s designation of WhatsApp as a Very Large Online Platform on January 27, 2026, represents a calculated regulatory response to the messaging service’s evolving role in digital communication [1][4]. The decision specifically targets WhatsApp’s Channels feature, which crossed the critical threshold of 45 million monthly active users in the EU, though some sources indicate the actual figure reached approximately 51.7 million users [1][3]. This regulatory classification demonstrates how the Digital Services Act operates with surgical precision, targeting specific functionalities rather than entire platforms wholesale.
Understanding WhatsApp’s Dual Nature
WhatsApp operates as what the European Commission describes as a “hybrid service comprising features of private messaging and of an online platform” [1]. The Channels feature, which allows users and organizations to broadcast updates and announcements to large audiences, falls squarely under the DSA’s definition of an online platform service [4]. Crucially, WhatsApp’s core private messaging functionality—including one-to-one conversations, group messaging, voice and video calls, and file sharing—remains explicitly excluded from the DSA’s platform regulations [1][4]. This distinction preserves the privacy-focused nature of personal communications while subjecting the broadcast elements to enhanced oversight.
Meta’s Compliance Timeline and Requirements
Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, faces a four-month deadline ending in mid-May 2026 to implement comprehensive compliance measures for Very Large Online Platform obligations [1][2][4]. These requirements encompass systematic risk assessments and mitigation strategies addressing violations of fundamental human rights, electoral manipulation, dissemination of illegal content, and privacy concerns [1]. The enhanced obligations also include detailed reporting on content moderation practices, user engagement metrics, and risk management protocols [4]. The European Commission will directly supervise WhatsApp’s compliance, working alongside Ireland’s digital regulator, Coimisiún na Meán [1][4].
Broader Digital Platform Landscape
WhatsApp joins an expanding roster of platforms designated as VLOPs under the DSA, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Snapchat [3]. The designation carries substantial financial implications, with potential fines reaching up to 6 percent of a platform’s global annual revenue for non-compliance [5]. This regulatory framework reflects the EU’s strategic approach to digital governance, balancing innovation capacity with user protection across the digital services sector [GPT]. The precedent established by WhatsApp’s designation signals that European regulators will continue applying granular oversight to specific platform functionalities, rather than broad-brush approaches to entire digital services.