EU Mandates Google Open Android AI And Search Data To Rivals

The European Commission has issued binding measures under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) requiring Google to provide rival AI assistants greater integration with Android and share anonymized search data with competitors. Under the new mandates, Google must allow third-party AI assistants to access 11 key Android features, enabling them to function via voice commands and perform cross-app tasks such as sending messages or booking services. These changes aim to lower competitive barriers and prevent Google from leveraging its dominant operating system position to stifle innovation in emerging AI services.

The commission’s decision targets Google's closed-ecosystem advantages in both search and mobile software. Beyond Android access, Google must now share anonymized datasets—including queries, clicks, and ranking signals—with eligible third-party search engines and AI chatbots. This data, used by Google to optimize its own services, will help rivals improve their retrieval technology and ground AI-generated responses in current, verifiable information. The measures include strict requirements for anonymization, and Google will implement a transparent pricing model for access based on the costs of data provision.

Implementation begins in stages, with search data sharing scheduled for January 2027 and specific Android feature openings arriving with Android 18 by 1 August 2027. Google has strongly opposed the decision, citing concerns that forcing interoperability risks undermining user privacy and essential security guardrails. Google’s legal representative, Kent Walker, noted that the company’s previous offers to safeguard users while meeting DMA goals were disregarded. Despite this friction, the European Commission emphasizes that these measures are essential to creating a level playing field for non-Google AI and search alternatives in the European market.