EU orders Google to open Android and Search data to rivals
EU orders Google to open Android and Search data to rivals
EU orders Google to open Android and Search data to rivals
The European Union has ordered Google to open up its Android operating system and Search data to rival companies, in a move aimed at promoting competition and innovation in the digital market. The decision, made under the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), requires Google to give rival AI assistants and search engines comparable access to Android and Search data, as enjoyed by its own services.
According to the EU, Google must allow users to choose their preferred AI assistant and wake it by voice, similar to its own Gemini service. Rival AI assistants will have the same level of access to Android features as Gemini, including the ability to interact with apps and control hardware on the phone. Google has until July 2027 to implement these changes to Android.
In addition to the Android decision, the EU has also ordered Google to share its Search data with rival search engines and AI chatbots. This data, which is used to improve Google's own search results, will be shared subject to anonymization, with the aim of "rebalancing the playing field" and promoting competition. Google has until January 2027 to start sharing this data.
Henna Virkkunen, the EU's tech chief, said that the measures would "support innovation and diversity in the European Union, enabling fair competition in the markets of AI assistant for Android devices and search engines." She added that the EU hopes to see emerging alternatives to Google Search and Google's AI services, such as Gemini, and that users in the EU will enjoy greater choice of services.
However, Google has expressed concerns about the decision, arguing that it poses an unacceptable risk to user privacy and security. Kent Walker, Google's president of global affairs, said that the decisions "risk undermining vital privacy and security guardrails for millions of Europeans." He argued that the changes would "weaken citizens' privacy, risk business trade secrets, and endanger national security."
The EU has dismissed these concerns, saying that it has taken integrity, security, and privacy into account, and that the decision will ensure anonymization of search data. The EU has also said that Google will be able to vet which services get deeper access to Android, to ensure safety and security are not compromised.
The decision is the latest move by the EU to regulate big tech companies and promote competition in the digital market. The EU has the power to impose fines of up to 10% of a company's global annual turnover for violating the DMA, and Google could face further action if it fails to comply with the decision.
