Over the past few days, the following topics attracted our attention:
EU designates ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox under DSA
Research: Plant-Based Meat Alternatives Contain Fungal Toxins
Syrian patriarch in Germany: 32 kids, nearly €100,000 in benefits
EU designates ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox under DSA
The European Commission announced on 31 August that ChatGPT is a Very Large Online Search Engine (VLOSE) as defined in the Digital Services Act (DSA), while Reddit and Roblox are Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs). According to the Commission, these services reach at least 45 million average monthly users in the EU, thereby meeting the threshold.
The Commission assesses ChatGPT as an artificial intelligence system that interacts with users and responds to queries by searching the web. ChatGPT is therefore a hybrid service that, under the DSA, is classified as an online search engine. Reddit is essentially a discussion-based platform where users can create, share and interact with content within topic-based communities. The Commission considers Roblox an immersive gaming and creation platform where users can create and publish games, as well as play games created by others. On all of these services, users are able to distribute third-party content to the public, which brings them under the DSA.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, explained: “These new designations mean that ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox will now be held to a higher standard of scrutiny and accountability in the European Union, in line with their significant impact on our citizens and society. We continue to monitor the digital landscape closely and will not hesitate to designate any platform that meets the threshold for enhanced supervision under the Digital Services Act.”
The Commission has given the services four months to comply with the DSA’s additional requirements and obligations. Consequently, by January 2027, they must, for example, be able to assess and mitigate systemic risks stemming from their service and algorithmic systems “related to the dissemination of illegal content, the negative effects on minors, users’ physical and mental well-being, fundamental rights, electoral processes and public security”.
Where the DSA applies, the Commission has the power to investigate whether the services and systems are functioning properly. It consideres itself competent to monitor compliance with the DSA in cooperation with Coimisiún na Meán (for ChatGPT) and the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) (for Reddit and Roblox). The former is the Digital Services Coordinator in Ireland and the latter in the Netherlands, where the services in question are established.
The list of designated digital platforms and search engines currently includes a total of 28 services, including, for example, AliExpress, Amazon Store, Booking.com, Instagram, WhatsApp, X and YouTube as platforms, and Bing and Google Search as search engines.
Research: Plant-Based Meat Alternatives Contain Fungal Toxins
The University of Parma in Italy and Cranfield University in the UK published a joint study, examining plant-based meat substitutes and drinks sold in the UK. All contained at least one natural mycotoxin. Concentrations remained below the EU’s recommended limit values; however, researchers question whether regular consumption in large quantities might lead to cumulative effects over time, reports Science Daily.
Researchers analysed 212 plant-based meat alternatives (PMBA) and plant-based beverages (PBB) available in UK shops, including burgers, plant-based chicken pieces, vegan sausages, and oat, almond and soya drinks. Every product contained at least one of nineteen mycotoxins, with some containing several. Mycotoxins are toxic compounds naturally produced by fungi. They may be particularly common in plant-based products, as many ingredients – such as grains, legumes and seeds – can become mouldy during cultivation and storage.
Mycotoxin levels in all tested products remained below the EU’s recommended limit values, which researchers say demonstrates the quality of the UK food industry. The concern is not the amount in a single product. Previous studies show that constant exposure to small amounts of mycotoxins – for example, as part of a completely plant-based diet – can accumulate over time and potentially cause health problems. Severe exposure has been linked to liver and kidney damage, a weakened immune system and cancer.
Andrea Patriarca, Senior Lecturer in Mycology at Cranfield University, explained that mycotoxins occur naturally in food and cannot be completely avoided. “As consumers, we should not be frightened or deterred from enjoying a variety of products. However, a significant concern arises when new foods enter the market, as there are currently no established regulations to monitor mycotoxins.” Patriarca added that the university is working closely with the food industry to help implement mycotoxin management within food safety standards.
Syrian clan patriarch in Germany: 32 kids, nearly €100,000 in benefits
According to the Saxon LKA (state criminal police), a Syrian refugee family lives in Leipzig, where the patriarch leads 3 wives, under Islamic customs, 32 children and 25 grandchildren. With this family structure, media calculations based on the statutory child benefit rate put the theoretical annual total at nearly 100,000 euros. Even if five of the children are already adults, the figure for the remaining minors still approaches about 85,000 euros a year, according to reports including Remix News.
Beyond the financial cost, the family’s criminal record also raises state expenses. Roughly two-thirds of the core family members have criminal records, and court files link the man’s adult sons to serious offences. In March 2023, Bilal (21), who held no driving licence, caused a crash near Eilenburg that killed four people before he fled. A court later sentenced him to 3.5 years under youth criminal law, but he remained free during the appeal and was arrested again for driving without a licence. Victims’ lawyer Jan Siebenhüner said Bilal showed no remorse. Bilal’s older brothers Mohamed and Rami are also known to police. In 2022 Mohamed received 4.5 years for an assault on a tram passenger and involvement in the sale of about 5 kg of methamphetamine. Rami faces accusations of violence, drug dealing and social-security fraud.
According to lawyer Siebenhüner, family members resist deportation by citing family-protection rules that limit the separation of families with children and the deportation of minors. Bilal arrived in Germany around 2015 as an unaccompanied minor to join his father. His refugee status remains in place while legal proceedings continue.
This case forms part of a broader pattern in Germany in which some migrants exploit family and paternity rules to secure higher benefits or residency rights. False-paternity claims have been documented particularly among men from West African countries, though the practice is not limited to any single region.