Europe finally sees WhatsApp as a Very Large Online Platform, but what does that mean?
The European Commission has formally designated WhatsApp as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the Digital Services Act (DSA), meaning that Meta’s messaging platform will assume additional responsibilities to tackle illegal and harmful content.
According to the EU's executive branch, WhatsApp’s “Channels” feature has over 45 million monthly users in the EU, making it eligible for designation as a VLOP.
The Channels feature lets users follow specific brands, companies, or artists and read updates from their channels. These announcements are sent to a broad audience of WhatsApp users and are therefore subject to DSA obligations that very large online platforms in the EU must respect.
This includes that VLOPs must identify and combat illegal and harmful content, report criminal offenses, ensure user-friendly terms and conditions, protect fundamental rights like freedom of speech, and be transparent regarding advertising, recommender systems, and content moderation processes.
Now that WhatsApp has been designated as a VLOP, parent company Meta has four months to ensure the messaging platform complies with the additional DSA obligations.
WhatsApp’s Channels feature is distinct from its private messaging platform and enables users to send messages, photos, videos, and documents, and to make voice or video calls to other users. This feature isn’t covered by the DSA.
In 2021, the European Parliament approved the Digital Services Act (DSA). With this new legislation, Brussels aims to better protect consumers and internet users from large tech companies, such as Google and Meta.
In June 2023, the European Commission disclosed a list of 19 VLOPs operating in the EU, including AliExpress, Amazon, Apple, Booking.com, Google, LinkedIn, Meta, Microsoft, Pinterest, Snap, TikTok, Twitter (X), and Wikimedia.
Zalando is also on the list of VLOPs. The clothing brand decided to appeal against the designation of VLOP, but to no avail. In September 2025, the General Court of the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that Zalando was rightfully designated as a VLOP by the European Commission.
“It emphasizes in particular that marketplaces can be used to facilitate the marketing of dangerous or illegal products to a significant part of the Union’s population,” the judge said.
Zalando said that it would appeal the General Court’s ruling.
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