BRUSSELS, January 26, 2026, 20:16 CET
- Under the EU’s Digital Services Act, the European Commission has classified WhatsApp’s Channels as a “very large online platform.”
- Meta has until mid-May—four months—to comply with new obligations designed to reduce illegal and harmful content.
- WhatsApp’s private messaging remains untouched; the focus is solely on its public Channels feature.
On Monday, the European Commission classified Meta’s WhatsApp “Channels” as a very large online platform under the Digital Services Act, increasing the company’s responsibilities to address illegal and harmful content. WhatsApp’s Channels saw an average of 51.7 million monthly users in the EU during the first half of 2025, surpassing the 45 million user threshold set by the law, the Commission noted. Meta now has until mid-May to meet the new requirements. 1
This matters because Channels is designed for one-to-many broadcasts, not private messaging, allowing it to rapidly deliver content to large EU audiences. Brussels has been ramping up enforcement of the DSA, a broad regulation aimed at making major online platforms identify and mitigate risks related to illegal content and other harms.
Earlier this month, the Commission announced it was considering classifying Channels as a platform service under the DSA. Monday’s decision makes that clear: WhatsApp’s private messaging remains outside the rules, but Channels falls under them, subject to the toughest regulations reserved for the largest platforms.
The Commission labeled WhatsApp a hybrid product, blending private messaging with features typical of online platforms. It pointed out that Channels allows users to broadcast information, updates, and announcements to a wide audience, which brings it under the Digital Services Act’s jurisdiction as a platform service. 2
The new responsibilities cover evaluating and addressing “systemic risks” — a term for threats that can escalate widely — including breaches of fundamental rights and freedom of expression, election interference, the proliferation of illegal content, and privacy issues, the Commission explained.
The Commission will take charge of oversight, collaborating with Ireland’s digital services coordinator, Coimisiún na Meán, the statement said—highlighting that many major tech companies have their main EU operations in Ireland.
The designation ranks WhatsApp’s Channels with other services already deemed very large under the DSA, such as Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, Alphabet’s YouTube, TikTok, Temu, and Microsoft’s LinkedIn, the Commission said.
A WhatsApp spokesperson confirmed the company plans to continue refining its controls as Channels expands. “We remain committed to evolving our safety and integrity measures in the region, ensuring they align with relevant regulatory expectations and our ongoing responsibility to users,” the spokesperson said.
But meeting these tougher rules can get costly, especially considering the sheer amount of content that might require review. They also reignite privacy debates over how much platforms should scan, particularly on services that promise secure communications.
Meta has just four months to get Channels compliant, setting up a critical test for EU regulators as they navigate a feature straddling the line between social feeds and messaging.
