BRUSSELS, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Alphabet's

mapping app Waze needs to do more to tackle illegal online

content on its platform after hitting a key user number under EU

tech rules, while three adult content sites will likely face

less stringent requirements after their user numbers fell below

the threshold.

Under the Digital Services Act (DSA) which became law last

year, online platforms with more than 45 million monthly average

users in the 27-country bloc are classified as Very Large Online

Platforms subject to tougher provisions.

"We are aware that Waze has published user numbers above the

DSA threshold for designation as a Very Large Online Platform,"

European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said in an

email.

Waze had 50.5 million average monthly users from July to

December 2024, according to a Google filing dated February 14.

Adult content companies Pornhub, Stripchat and XVideos,

which were labelled VLOPs in December 2023, reported a drop in

users in the second half of last year.

"Regarding the three pornographic platforms you are

referring to, I can confirm that an undesignation is possible

under the DSA, if a Very Large Online Platform falls under the

threshold. Nevertheless, the general DSA obligations would

continue to apply," Regnier said.

Pornhub's website says it had 26.6 million average monthly

users in the EU as of January 1, while Stripchat reported 26.6

million users as of August 1, 2024.

The Commission is expected to issue a decision on the VLOP

designations in about two months after verifying the user

numbers. DSA breaches can cost companies fines as much as 6% of

their annual global revenue.