The European Commission is moving closer to designating Meta's WhatsApp as a 'Very Large Platform' (VLOP), a move that would significantly increase the messaging app's legal responsibilities for policing harmful content on its service. This development marks a major escalation in the European Union's regulatory scrutiny of the popular platform.
What Does the VLOP Designation Mean for WhatsApp?
This potential reclassification stems from WhatsApp's own disclosure in February 2025, where the company confirmed its user numbers in the EU had officially crossed the threshold mandated by the bloc's Digital Services Act (DSA). A VLOP tag would force WhatsApp to comply with the EU's most stringent online governance rules.
These obligations would include conducting mandatory risk assessments and taking aggressive, proactive measures to identify and remove illegal or harmful content. Thomas Regnier, a spokesperson for the European Commission, hinted at the likelihood of this action, stating, "I wouldn't exclude a future designation." The confirmation of this ongoing consideration was reported by Reuters on Friday, January 9.
Ongoing Antitrust Probe into Meta's AI Policy
This news arrives about a month after the Commission launched a separate antitrust investigation into Meta. That probe focuses on the company's policy of restricting third-party artificial intelligence offerings from accessing tools within the WhatsApp Business Solution.
Under a policy change enacted in October 2025, companies whose primary product is AI are barred from using WhatsApp's business messaging tools. Critics argue this restriction unfairly blocks competitors while allowing Meta's own assistant, Meta AI, to remain fully integrated and accessible on the platform.
EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera emphasized the need to prevent tech giants from "crowding out" innovation. Meta has dismissed the investigation as "baseless," claiming that massive AI chatbots strain systems not designed for them and that the AI market remains competitive. The company has shown no sign of reversing the policy despite a January 15 deadline.
Wide-Ranging Implications and Investigations
The Commission's antitrust investigation will cover the European Economic Area (EEA), with the exception of Italy, where local authorities are running a parallel probe. The dual actions—the potential VLOP designation and the antitrust investigation—signal a comprehensive regulatory challenge for Meta in Europe.
If designated a VLOP, WhatsApp would join a small group of the largest online platforms facing the EU's highest level of digital scrutiny. The move underscores Europe's hardening stance on ensuring major tech companies bear greater accountability for what happens on their networks, balancing innovation with user safety and market fairness.
