EU forces Google to open Android to AI assistants, share search data with rivals
NewsFriday, 17 July 2026 at 12:00
The European Commission is forcing Google to give rivals equal access to key AI features on Android and to share search data with other search engines. The binding measures fall under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and aim to crack Google’s dominance in AI and online search. According to the Commission, European users will get more choice and the market more room to innovate.
The measures, published this week, target two core parts of Google’s ecosystem: AI assistants on Android and the vast trove of search data powering Google Search. Brussels sees both as critical competitive advantages that have been largely out of reach for others.
AI assistants to match Gemini’s powers
The biggest shift hits Android. Until now, third‑party AI assistants had limited access to system functions, while Google’s own Gemini is deeply integrated into the OS.
The Commission says alternative AI assistants must get the same capabilities. Users should be able to trigger another assistant with a voice command—akin to “Hey Google.” External AI systems must also be able to perform actions inside apps on a user’s behalf.
That means AI assistants could, among other things:
- book taxis;
- draft messages or suggest smart replies;
- pull information about recently visited places;
- handle other tasks currently reserved mostly for Gemini.
The Commission stresses these new rules come with robust security and privacy safeguards to protect user data and Android’s integrity.
For roughly 60 percent of European smartphone users on Android, this could translate into significantly more choice in AI.
Google must open up search data
Beyond Android, Brussels will require Google to make valuable search data available to rival search engines.
Google holds massive datasets used to continuously refine results. The Commission argues this scale is a major barrier for newcomers.
The new specification decision therefore requires that:
- AI chatbots with search features can also access the shared data;
- Google must share datasets comparable to those it uses to optimize Google Search;
- all data is carefully anonymized in advance;
- Google may refuse data only when there are demonstrable cybersecurity or privacy risks.
The Commission has also set a transparent method for how Google can price these datasets.
Why this matters now
With the DMA, the European Commission is reining in Big Tech’s power. AI is seen as the next battleground where platform owners could entrench their dominance.
By granting equal Android access, companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, Perplexity, and European AI developers can more easily compete with Gemini. Mandatory data sharing could also help new search engines build credible alternatives to Google Search.
Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera says the digital transition must be fair and give consumers real choice. Henna Virkkunen, responsible for Tech Sovereignty, adds that the measures should fuel innovation in Europe and open space for new AI services.
Phased rollout
Google must implement the measures within set deadlines.
The timeline:
- January 2027: Google begins sharing search data with eligible providers.
- July 2027: Android users get the new interoperability features for AI assistants.
The decisions are legally binding, but Google can still challenge them in court.
Part of a wider push on Big Tech
These moves are part of broader DMA enforcement. In September 2023, Google was officially designated a “gatekeeper,” triggering extensive obligations since March 2024 across Google Search, Android, Chrome, Google Play, Maps, and YouTube.
Notably, this procedure isn’t a sanctions case. The Commission isn’t imposing a fine but is legally specifying how Google must meet existing DMA duties. The goal: avoid future disputes over the law’s interpretation and meaningfully boost competition in Europe’s digital market.
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