The European Commission has classified ChatGPT as a ‘very large online search engine’ under the Digital Services Act (DSA). This is the first time that a language model has been subject to this regulation. Dr. Tobias Mast considers this classification reasonable, and in his statement for the Science Media Centre he points out that the consequences will depend on how the DSA’s requirements, which were originally developed for different types of service, are applied to AI chatbots.
From His Statement
‘The European Commission’s decision itself has not yet been published. The press release is limited to the brief statement that ChatGPT is a hybrid service with interaction and search functions. This allows for its classification as a “Very Large Online Search Engine” within the meaning of the Digital Services Act (DSA).”
That said, the DSA is a good fit in principle. It aims to ensure a safe, predictable and trustworthy online environment. As such, it covers the full range of online services in use. However, it was designed for services that distribute and provide a platform for third-party content — so-called intermediary or hosting services. Even traditional online search engines represent a special case under its logic, and chatbots based on generative artificial intelligence (AI) even more so because they create their own content too. Therefore, some of the DSA’s provisions do not fit perfectly.’
Tobias Mast’s full statement can be found in German on the Science Media Centre’s website.
Photo: Tobias Mast, edited with AI.