WhatsApp Faces "Very Large" Scrutiny: Why the EU is Cracking Down on Channels
For years, WhatsApp has largely flown under the radar of the EU's strictest social media content laws. While Facebook and Instagram have been battling heavy regulations, WhatsApp argued it was a private messaging tool, not a public square.
That excuse just expired.
According to fresh reports from Brussels this week, the European Commission is preparing to designate WhatsApp as a "Very Large Online Platform" (VLOP) under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
This is a massive shift in how the world's most popular messaging app is regulated. Here is what is happening, why "Channels" are to blame, and what it means for your app experience.
The Trigger: It’s All About "Channels"
The Digital Services Act (DSA) has a magic number: 45 million.
If a platform has more than 45 million monthly active users in the European Union, it gets slapped with the "VLOP" label, which triggers the highest level of scrutiny, transparency, and fines.
Until recently, WhatsApp’s user base was mostly using private messaging, which is exempt from many of these rules. But the explosive growth of WhatsApp Channels—the one-to-many broadcast feature used by celebrities, news outlets, and brands—has changed the game.
The Data:
WhatsApp Channels now has approximately 51.7 million monthly users in the EU alone.
Because Channels function like a social media feed (public, algorithmic, and one-to-many), regulators argue they must be policed like one.
Private Chats vs. Public Broadcasts
This is the most critical distinction to understand.
The new rules apply to WhatsApp Channels, NOT your private chats.
The EU acknowledges that your encrypted personal messages are private correspondence. They are not asking WhatsApp to scan your DMs. However, they are saying that Channels are effectively a public social network living inside a chat app, and that part needs to be regulated.
The New Obligations: What WhatsApp Must Do
Once the VLOP designation is official, WhatsApp will have to play by the same rules as TikTok, X (Twitter), and Instagram. This includes:
1. Mandatory Risk Assessments
WhatsApp will have to submit annual reports detailing systemic risks on Channels. This includes analyzing how the feature might be used to spread disinformation, illegal content, or hate speech, and what they are doing to stop it.
2. Algorithmic Transparency
Why is a certain Channel recommended to you? WhatsApp will be legally required to explain the logic behind its "Find Channels" directory and recommendations. They may also need to offer an option to turn off profiling-based recommendations.
3. Aggressive Content Moderation
You can expect stricter moderation on Channels. WhatsApp will need faster mechanisms to take down illegal content when reported and will likely employ more AI moderators to scan broadcast messages for violations.
4. Independent Audits
WhatsApp will be forced to open its books (and its algorithms) to independent auditors and vetted researchers to prove they are complying with EU law.
What Does This Mean for You?
If you are a regular user, the core chat experience won't change. However, the Channels tab is about to get a lot more "professional."
Safer Content: You will likely see less spam, scams, and harmful fake news in the Channels directory.
More Transparency: You might see new "Why am I seeing this?" buttons on Channel recommendations.
Stricter Rules for Creators: If you run a popular WhatsApp Channel, expect tighter enforcement of community guidelines. One wrong move could get your Channel suspended faster than before.
The Bottom Line
WhatsApp is no longer just a messenger; it is a broadcaster. The EU is simply catching up to that reality. While Meta might groan at the extra paperwork (and the threat of fines up to 6% of global revenue), this move was inevitable the moment WhatsApp decided to build a social network inside its chat app.
Stay tuned. We expect the official designation from the European Commission to land within the next few weeks.
