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The European Commission will require Google to make other companies’ AIs more accessible on Android and to reveal its internal search data to competitors.
The commission argues that Google holds too strong a position in key industries like search and the burgeoning AI space, in violation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). In search, it still dominates the space with over 91% of the global market.
Data sharing is “crucial for the development and optimization of third-party search engines,” the commission says, so it’s forcing Google to hand over the data it uses to optimize its own search services. This kind of data, the commission argues, could help level the playing field for other search engines, allowing them to more easily develop innovative search services, particularly those that focus on user privacy.
Ironically, that’s what Google claims will be harmed by this measure. Google’s president of global affairs, Kent Walker, says that it risks harming the privacy of European users by sharing data without adequate anonymization. However, the commission specifically says that data sharing would be subject to anonymization before being shared. It has also provided guidance on calculating the value of shared data to ensure Google is not unfairly compensated.
Walker says that Google will continue to advocate for a more “balanced approach.”
On AI access on Android, the commission is also forcing Google to open up its systems. In this case, it has to give third-party AI assistants the ability to perform some of the tasks that Gemini can do, such as being activated with a wake word, like “Hey Google.” The same goes for performing tasks within applications—effectively making it so that anything Gemini can do on Android, other AI assistant tools need to be able to do it, too.
“Currently, on Android phones, competitors’ AI assistants only have restricted access to key functionalities of the Google Android operating system,” the commission notes. “Without this access, alternative AI assistants are not competing on an equal footing with Google’s own AI services that have full access. Third-party AI assistants are therefore limited in how they can offer their innovative services, making them less attractive to 60% of EU users who have an Android device.”
Google must implement the search data sharing requirements by January 2027 and the AI integration by July 2027.
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Jon Martindale is a tech journalist from the UK, with 20 years of experience covering all manner of PC components and associated gadgets. He’s written for a range of publications, including ExtremeTech, Digital Trends, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, and Lifewire, among others. When not writing, he’s a big board gamer and reader, with a particular habit of speed-reading through long manga sagas.
Jon covers the latest PC components, as well as how-to guides on everything from how to take a screenshot to how to set up your cryptocurrency wallet. He particularly enjoys the battles between the top tech giants in CPUs and GPUs, and tries his best not to take sides.
Jon’s gaming PC is built around the iconic 7950X3D CPU, with a 7900XTX backing it up. That’s all the power he needs to play lightweight indie and casual games, as well as more demanding sim titles like Kerbal Space Program. He uses a pair of Jabra Active 8 earbuds and a SteelSeries Arctis Pro wireless headset, and types all day on a Logitech G915 mechanical keyboard.
Jon Martindale is a tech journalist from the UK, with 20 years of experience covering all manner of PC components and associated gadgets. He’s written for a range of publications, including ExtremeTech, Digital Trends, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, and Lifewire, among others. When not writing, he’s a big board gamer and reader, with a particular habit of speed-reading through long manga sagas.
Jon covers the latest PC components, as well as how-to guides on everything from how to take a screenshot to how to set up your cryptocurrency wallet. He particularly enjoys the battles between the top tech giants in CPUs and GPUs, and tries his best not to take sides.
Jon’s gaming PC is built around the iconic 7950X3D CPU, with a 7900XTX backing it up. That’s all the power he needs to play lightweight indie and casual games, as well as more demanding sim titles like Kerbal Space Program. He uses a pair of Jabra Active 8 earbuds and a SteelSeries Arctis Pro wireless headset, and types all day on a Logitech G915 mechanical keyboard.
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