Apple joins Google in challenging EU’s Android AI access mandates

Apple has publicly aligned itself with Google in opposing European Commission proposals under the Digital Markets Act that would require Android to grant third-party artificial intelligence services the same level of access to device data as Google’s own Gemini assistant. Both companies argue that the measures, designed to foster competition in the AI landscape, pose significant risks to user privacy, security, and device integrity.

The European Commission has been enforcing the Digital Markets Act to ensure Google complies with competition rules, aiming to give third-party providers an equal opportunity to innovate and compete on smart mobile devices. In January, the Commission ordered Google to provide external AI assistants with equal access to Android and to hand over anonymised ranking, query, click, and view data from Google Search to rival search engines.

In April, the Commission released draft rules detailing the measures it wants Google to take to comply with its AI demands. Google’s counsel had previously argued that the proposed measures would undermine critical privacy and security for European users and unnecessarily drive up costs. Apple submitted feedback to the Commission in response to these draft rules, echoing Google’s concerns.

Apple warned that allowing competing AI services complete access to Android would enable them to interact with sensitive user apps, such as those for email, food ordering, and photo sharing. The company described the draft measures as raising urgent and serious concerns, stating that if confirmed, they would create profound risks for user privacy, security, safety, device integrity, and performance.

Apple characterised the value of the draft measures as merely providing open and unfettered access, noting that AI systems are still evolving with unpredictable capabilities. The company also criticised the European Commission for substituting its own judgment for that of Google’s engineers, pointing out that the Commission had less than three months to draft the rules.

Apple acknowledged its own strong interest in the case, as it is also being probed by the Commission under the Digital Markets Act. The company has long opposed the Act, which requires it to allow third-party app marketplaces on its operating system, and has previously accused the EU of using political delay tactics to investigate and fine the company.