This is not great news for Meta, nor for all of us, as it will only strengthen Mark Zuckerberg’s desire to further align himself with the Trump administration.
Nowadays the European Commission has done just that announced that WhatsApp is now eligible for the ‘Very Large Online Platforms’ (VLOP) designation, which means Meta will need to provide more in-depth performance data and moderation insights for WhatsApp, along with Facebook and Instagram.
The European Commission has introduced the VLOP designation back in 2022as part of the ever-evolving Digital Services Act (DSA) legislation, which is designed to hold major online providers to a higher standard of responsibility in how they handle user data, advertising transparency and more. To qualify, a platform must have more than 45 million monthly active users, which WhatsApp already surpasses in Europe, although it has so far avoided being included in this category because it is a private messaging app and not a social platform.
But now the EU says the evolving use of the platform has changed its name.
According to the European Commission:
“WhatsApp Channels, WhatsApp’s feature that allows recipients to distribute information, updates and announcements to a broad audience of WhatsApp users, falls within the definition of an online platform service and is therefore already subject to the general DSA obligations that online platforms in the EU must respect. WhatsApp’s private messaging service, which allows users to send text messages, voice notes, photos, videos and documents, and make voice and video calls with other users, remains expressly excluded from the application of the DSA.
So it’s specifically the use of WhatsApp channels that has led to this review, meaning Meta must now provide regular updates on how many EU users WhatsApp has, how many requests for information it has received, moderation information, rule violations and more.
“After the designation, Meta, WhatsApp’s provider, has four months, i.e. no later than mid-May 2026, to ensure that WhatsApp complies with the additional DSA obligations for VLOPs. These obligations include properly assessing and mitigating any systemic risks, such as violations of fundamental human rights and freedom of expression, election manipulation, the dissemination of illegal content and privacy issues, arising from its services.”
It’s a blow to Meta, which now has to take on extra reporting work and ensure it meets the DSA’s requirements in another app. And if it fails, it is again a punitive measure.
And with the EU already handing out more than $1 billion in fines to the company every year, you can bet that Zuck and Co. weigh their options and consider how to frame this as a violation of free trade to win the support of the Trump team.
This is a big reason why Zuckerberg is so eager to join the Trump team, because he knows Trump will fight for him in the foreign trade battle, which could save the company huge amounts of money.
The Trump administration has repeatedly signaled its opposition to EU fines on US tech companies, even brushing aside the threat of higher tariffs in response to such fines. But so far the country has not taken that next step and has become directly involved in rebutting EU sanctions and launching reciprocal measures.
But it’s coming.
Last month, X was fined US$140 million by Elon Musk for violations of the DSA regarding changes to authentication and data access restrictions. Musk responded by comparing the European Commission to the Nazi regime, and in response called for the US to leave NATO.
That would be extreme retaliation, but Musk did receive support from both Vice President J.D. Vance And Secretary of State Marco Rubiowith the latter labeling the X-punishment as “an attack on all American technology platforms and the American people by foreign governments.”
It feels like this is going to lead to a bigger dispute, especially as the EU continues to launch new investigations and explore major penalties for US companies.
Will the Trump team be able to change the European Commission’s approach through responsive trade restrictions, or will the EU continue to win with its ever-evolving sanctions?
To be clear, I don’t think many of the European Commission’s regulations are achieving their intended purpose, and it appears that at least some are designed to get more money out of American companies.
As such, I understand why Meta believes now is the best time to push for change, with Trump’s “America First” ethos more likely to lead to action.
But in doing so, Trump will also expect preferential treatment in return, which could have broader consequences.
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