EU Weighs Stricter Rules for WhatsApp on Harmful Content
Published January 9, 2026
The European Commission is actively considering whether to designate Meta’s WhatsApp as a “very large platform” under the Digital Services Act, a commission spokesperson said on Friday, according to Reuters. This move would increase the messaging service’s legal responsibilities for tackling illegal and harmful content.
Spokesperson Thomas Regnier told reporters the consideration follows WhatsApp’s publication of user numbers that surpassed the DSA’s threshold in February 2025. “I wouldn’t exclude a future designation,” Regnier said.
