WhatsApp has been officially designated as a Very Large Online Platform by the European Union. The designation means WhatsApp needs to moderate the app to tackle illegal content and public security risks.

WhatsApp has hit a user criterion set out in landmark EU tech rules, the unit owned by Meta Platforms said, meaning it is required to do more to tackle online illegal and harmful content.

Meta Platforms Inc.’s messaging service WhatsApp reached a crucial user milestone likely to bind it to more stringent rules under the European Union’s Digital Services Act.

Meta’s WhatsApp has now gathered enough users to be designated a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), opening it up to stricter regulations in the region, reports Bloomberg.

The DSA content moderation rulebook enforces stricter requirements on very large online platforms, exceeding 45 million EU-based monthly active users.