EU mandates Google open Android and Search data to rivals under DMA

The European Commission has issued rulings requiring Google to open its Android operating system and Search data to competitors under the Digital Markets Act. As a designated gatekeeper, Google must allow rival AI assistants, including ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity, as well as search engines, comparable access to system features and data. The European Commission stated these measures are necessary to foster innovation, diversity, and fair competition in the European market.

The proceedings focus on two distinct areas: interoperability for rival AI assistants on Android and data access for competing search engines and AI chatbots. In the Android decision, Google must allow rival assistants to interact with apps, respond to voice commands, and utilise device hardware. Users will decide whether to grant this access, potentially allowing alternatives to Google’s own Gemini assistant to integrate deeply into the device.

The search data proceeding includes AI chatbots that function as search engines, echoing remedies in a US antitrust case. The EU will impose limits on how search data is used and allow Google to vet services for deeper Android access to ensure safety and security. Non-compliance could result in fines of up to 10 percent of Google’s annual worldwide turnover, potentially amounting to tens of billions of dollars.

Google has pushed back against both measures, arguing they pose an unacceptable risk to user privacy and security. Kent Walker, Google’s president of global affairs, stated in a blog post that the decisions risk undermining vital privacy and security guardrails for millions of Europeans. He added that the company had offered solutions to safeguard users while satisfying the DMA’s goals, but the rulings discounted extensive evidence of user harm.

European Commission executive vice president Henna Virkkunen said the measures support innovation and diversity, enabling fair competition in the markets for AI assistants and search engines. She expressed hope that emerging alternatives to Google Search and Gemini would emerge, allowing users in the EU to enjoy greater choice. The rulings may also influence how the EU approaches similar regulatory questions for other tech giants, including Apple.

Google must begin sharing search data by January 2027 and implement Android interoperability changes by July 2027. These technical regulatory proceedings require Google to change how it operates to bring its services in line with the DMA, developed through extensive engagement between the company and regulators. The decisions could weaken Google’s control over two of the tech industry’s most important platforms and shape the future of its AI tools.