EU to Require WhatsApp to Better Manage Harmful Content

• WhatsApp recorded 51.7 million average monthly active users in the EU in the first six months of 2025, exceeding the DSA's 45 million user threshold for very large platform designation
• Meta has been given four months (until mid-May 2026) to ensure WhatsApp complies with additional DSA obligations for very large online platforms
• The DSA designation requires WhatsApp to implement stronger measures to identify and remove illegal and harmful content on its platform

Summary

The European Commission formally designated Meta Platforms' WhatsApp as a "Very Large Online Platform" (VLOP) under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) on January 26, 2026. This designation subjects WhatsApp to stricter content moderation requirements for illegal and harmful content.

Key Details:

WhatsApp exceeded the DSA's threshold with 51.7 million average monthly active users in the EU during the first six months of 2025, surpassing the 45 million user minimum that triggers VLOP status.

Compliance Timeline:

Meta has four months from the designation date to ensure WhatsApp complies with additional DSA obligations—a deadline of mid-May 2026. The enhanced requirements mandate more robust systems to identify, remove, and prevent illegal and harmful content on the platform.

Market Implications:

This regulatory action adds to Meta's compliance burden in Europe, potentially requiring significant investment in content moderation infrastructure and technology. The designation follows similar actions against other major tech platforms under the DSA, which came into force to regulate digital services across the 27-member bloc.

The move reflects the EU's continued focus on holding large technology companies accountable for content shared on their platforms. Meta will need to implement enhanced risk assessment procedures, transparency reporting, and content moderation mechanisms specific to WhatsApp's messaging and channels features.

This development may impact Meta's operational costs in Europe and could set precedent for how messaging platforms are regulated globally, potentially influencing similar regulatory approaches in other jurisdictions.