EU orders Google to open Android and Search to rival AI assistants and search engines

The European Commission ordered Google to allow rival AI assistants and search engines greater access to key parts of Android and Google Search under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). The two decisions, issued on Thursday, require Google to provide competitors with comparable access to system features and data, aiming to weaken the company’s control over two of the tech industry’s most important platforms.

Google must implement changes to Android by July 2027 and begin sharing search data with rivals by January 2027, or face fines of up to 10% of its annual worldwide turnover, which could amount to tens of billions of dollars. The rulings stem from technical regulatory proceedings under the DMA, which mandates that designated ‘gatekeepers’ provide competitors with access comparable to what Google itself uses.

The Android decision specifies that rival AI assistants—such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity—must be granted the same system features and data access as Google’s own AI assistant, Gemini. This includes the ability to interact with apps, respond to voice commands like ‘Hey Google,’ and utilize device hardware, allowing users to choose non-Gemini assistants as deeply integrated system tools.

The second decision focuses on Google Search, requiring the company to share data generated by its search engine with competing search engines and AI chatbots, which often function similarly to search engines. The EU emphasized that access to this data will be limited and subject to vetting to ensure privacy and security are not compromised.

Google has contested both rulings, arguing that the requirements risk undermining user privacy and security, as well as harming its products. The company stated it has repeatedly offered alternative solutions to address the DMA’s goals while safeguarding users, but claimed the rulings dismiss extensive evidence of potential harm.

European Commission executive vice president Henna Virkkunen said the measures aim to support innovation and diversity in the EU, enabling fair competition in AI assistants for Android devices and search engines. She expressed hope that the decisions would allow emerging alternatives to Google’s services to gain ground and provide users with greater choice.

The rulings may also signal how the EU plans to approach similar questions involving other major tech companies, including Apple, which has cited the DMA’s interoperability requirements as a reason for limiting Siri AI in Europe.