The European Union orders Google to open Android to AI competitors and share search data

the European Commission Google on Thursday required Google to provide its competitors with greater access to artificial intelligence capabilities Android phones And to dig into the data, they say that increased openness is necessary to level the playing field in those areas.

Governance emanates from the European Union Digital Markets Lawwhich is designed to ensure that powerful technology companies, such as Google and Apple, cannot unfairly dominate markets through their size and gatekeeping powers. In this case, the law requires Google to give third-party apps and services the same level of access to its software as it does to its own services.

“With today’s actions, we want to support innovation and diversity in the EU, and enable fair competition in the markets for AI assistants for Android devices and search engines,” Hina Virkonen, the Commission’s Executive Vice-President for Technical Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, said in a statement. “Thanks to these measures, we hope to see emerging alternatives to Google Search and Google AI services, such as Gemini, and that users in the EU will be able to enjoy a greater choice of services.”

Gemini ai It has become inevitable in Google software and beyond Android devices. but Artificial intelligence assistants From other companies, access to key Android functions has been restricted, limiting the types of services they can create and provide, putting them at an unfair disadvantage, according to the Commission. The new ruling means, for example, that third-party AI can be activated with a voice command similar to “Hey, Google” or can be delegated tasks such as booking a taxi, the Commission said.

The Commission indicated that 60% of phone users in the European Union have an Android device.

Thursday’s decision also requires Google to share its search data with third-party search engines and with chatbots that provide search functionality. This includes data that Google uses to improve its search engine. The committee said this requirement is important for the development and improvement of third-party search engines, including privacy-focused alternatives.

Google will also have to provide the data at a fair price and through a clear process, the commission said.

Google response

In its response to the ruling, Google home in About what she said about the risks that DMA-driven changes might pose to users.

“Today’s decisions risk undermining vital privacy and security barriers for millions of Europeans,” Kent Walker, head of global affairs for Google and parent company Alphabet, wrote in a blog post. “We have repeatedly offered solutions to protect users while achieving DMA goals, but these rulings exclude comprehensive evidence of user harm.”

In an email to CNET, a Google spokesperson reiterated the company’s privacy concerns and noted that the alternatives it proposed would, for example, ensure that query-related data is passed to recipients while providing better protection for personal data. Google also suggested that the anonymization be done by technical and legal experts, but said the European Commission rejected the proposal.

Google also said that AI agents already have access to options, but ultimately, phone makers play a big role in protecting users by evaluating which apps could have system-level permissions and access to your data. Phone manufacturers provide this access, not Google, she said.

Apple said so last month Because of the DMA rulingaccess to the new Siri AI It will not be available to users in the European Union when iOS 27 and iPad OS 27 Rolling out later this year.

Under Thursday’s ruling, Google must start sharing data with search providers in January 2027 and make Android changes starting in July 2027.