EU Mandates Google to Share Search Data and Open Android to Competing AI Assistants
The European Union has officially moved forward with regulations that will require Google to share search data with competitors and open its Android platform to rival AI assistants. The decision, part of the EU's ongoing efforts to promote digital market competition, targets Google's dominant position in search and mobile operating systems.
Under the new rules, Google must provide competitors access to the same search data the company uses to power its own services. Additionally, Android device manufacturers will be required to allow users to install and use AI assistants that compete with Google's Gemini AI.
Google has voiced strong opposition to these requirements, arguing that the mandated data sharing and platform openness could expose users to increased privacy and security risks. The company contends that loosening control over how data flows through its ecosystem may create vulnerabilities that malicious actors could exploit.
The EU's actions are the latest in a series of enforcement measures under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), aimed at ensuring fair competition in the tech sector. Regulators argue that Google's control over search data and mobile platforms has created an uneven playing field that disadvantages smaller competitors.
The regulations are expected to take effect following a compliance period, during which Google may appeal certain provisions. The outcome could set a precedent for how major tech platforms must operate within European markets going forward.