EU Orders Google to Open Android and Search Data to Competitors
The European Commission has officially ordered Google to open access to its search data and core Android system features to competitors, a move aimed at balancing competition under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The legally binding decision, released on 16 July 2026, mandates that Google provide rival AI assistants and search engines with equal access to its platform. However, Google has strongly objected, warning that the rules could undermine privacy and security safeguards for users.
“This decision helps smaller competitors compete, while also protecting user rights,” said European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera.
Google’s Vice President of Global Affairs, Kent Walker, countered that the ruling risks breaching established privacy and security protections for millions of European citizens. He cautioned that opening system access could bypass existing safeguards, and that sharing data might expose personal search histories to lesser-known companies.
Google also claims that the anonymisation methods proposed by the EU can be defeated, citing an internal test where its team re-identified users from prepared data in under two hours. The Commission stated it is ready to refine the provisions to ensure data protection but stressed that the core objective of opening access will not change.
The decision outlines two main obligations for Google as a digital market “gatekeeper”:
- Android must open to competing AI technology
Currently, Google’s own services, such as Gemini, enjoy privileged access to system features like the “Hey Google” voice command, screen content access, and app automation. This makes it difficult for third-party AI services to offer a comparable experience to the roughly 60% of Android users in the European Union. Starting July 2027, Google must provide identical access to rival AI assistants—such as ChatGPT, Claude, or local services—allowing users to freely choose their default AI assistant on their phones.
- Search data must be shared
By January 2027 at the latest, Google must provide competitors with search data, including query statistics, clicks, ranking order, and page views, at a fair and transparent cost. This rule also applies to AI-powered search services, enabling other players to develop stronger alternatives.
If implemented as planned, Android phone owners will be able to activate their chosen AI assistant via voice command, allow it to read the screen, or perform tasks without being tied to Google services. However, concerns remain about whether device security and personal data confidentiality can be maintained as system access is widened. Both parties are currently negotiating the technical details of the implementation ahead of the set deadlines.