WhatsApp, an app for messaging which operates under Facebook Meta has been categorized as Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) in accordance with the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA). Such classification increases the regulatory responsibility of the platform in order to meet the necessary demands for user protection, data privacy, and integrity. As WhatsApp announced its daily active users has crossed 45 million in the EU, it is highly bound to meet strict regulatory measures to address challenges such as fake news spread and unlawful information.

Highlights:

• WhatsApp is classified as a "Very Large Online Platform" under EU regulations.
• The platform must adhere to the Digital Services Act's stringent requirements.
• Enhanced focus on combating misinformation and illegal content.
• Mandatory risk assessments and transparency reports to be submitted.
• Non-compliance could result in hefty fines or operational restrictions.

The EU Digital Services Act provided that platforms such as VLOPs are responsible for systematically addressing systemic risk factors. This entails undertaking periodical risk assessment in a bid to determine other risks and threats that may arise in the school fraternity such as disinformation, cyberbullying, and data breaches. It also becomes obligatory for WhatsApp to publish the transparency reports concerning the actions taken in relation to dissemination of prohibited content as well as activities of the algorithms. Such steps are meant to ensure there is a check and balance system within the platform as well as ensure that the users have confidence in the functioning of the platform.

According to the DSA, WhatsApp will need to improve its content filtering and regularly remove any unlawful content. The platform will, of course, need to interact with EU regulators and allow them to inspect the data and the algorithms used. Also, any failure in these obligations may result in fines of up to 6% of the global annual turnover. This move, therefore, indicates the EU standing on ensuring that it provides its citizens with safer space online.

The designation reflects increased expectations of authorities regarding the protection and welfare of the users of the digital platforms and the transparency of the actions of these technology giants. Although WhatsApp has not disclosed the details of its compliance plan yet, efforts will be made to track its reaction. This strategically marks a new trend which VMWare will have to prepare to deal with in the future; the way extra-large technology companies are treated in the EU is a bad sign for these companies in the future as more regulators emulate the EU’s actions.