The European Union has introduced new regulations compelling Google to share its search data and to make its Android operating system more accessible to competing artificial intelligence companies. These measures are intended to promote innovation and diversity within the digital sector by ensuring fair access to AI features on Android devices and search engines.
Henna Virkkunen, an executive vice president at the European Commission, stated that the goal is to encourage emerging alternatives to Google's search and AI services, such as Gemini, and to provide users in the EU with a wider selection of services. This action is part of the EU's broader regulatory efforts to curb the influence of major technology platforms, often referred to as "gatekeepers."
Previous EU actions have included requiring Google to provide access to Gemini AI services for rival companies, mandating Apple to implement interoperability features for its devices, and compelling Meta to remove certain "addictive features" from its platforms.
Google, through its president of global affairs Kent Walker, has expressed concern that the new rules could undermine existing safeguards for user privacy. Walker argued that exposing European users' search data to unfamiliar companies without adequate anonymization, user consent, or knowledge could weaken privacy, compromise business trade secrets, and pose national security risks.
The European Commission identified that AI agents not developed by Google were unable to perform at the same level as Google's Gemini on Android phones. Consequently, Google is now required to allow third-party AI agents to be activated by voice commands and to perform background tasks, such as booking restaurant reservations through external applications.
Furthermore, by January 2027, Google must begin sharing anonymized search data with select competitors. The commission asserts this step is necessary to create a more equitable competitive landscape, given Google's extensive user data holdings that competitors cannot match.