EU Orders Google to Open Android and Share Search Data With AI Rivals

The European Commission has ordered Google to open key Android functions to competing artificial intelligence assistants, removing technical advantages currently reserved for Gemini.

The binding Digital Markets Act measures cover 11 Android features used by AI services. Third-party assistants will be able to launch through voice commands, access approved on-device context, perform actions across applications, automate background tasks and use system resources under conditions comparable to Google’s own services.

Users could select another assistant to draft and send emails, schedule meetings, order food, change device settings or retrieve information from supported applications. Access to Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Maps, YouTube, Messages and Phone must be available through Android’s operating-system integration channels when users and developers permit it.

Google must provide the interoperability features free of charge across its Android ecosystem, including devices made by other manufacturers. The changes must arrive with Android 18 or by August 1, 2027. Concurrent voice activation for multiple assistants has a later deadline of August 1, 2028.

Search Data Opens to Eligible AI Services

A separate decision requires Google to share anonymized ranking, query, click and view data with eligible search providers on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms.

The access can include AI chatbots that provide search functions, potentially covering services from companies such as OpenAI and Microsoft if they satisfy the Commission’s eligibility, scale, security and audit requirements. Google’s previous proposal excluded AI chatbots and removed between 90% and 100% of unique queries from the available dataset.

Recipients can use the information to improve query interpretation, indexing, ranking and retrieval. They cannot use it to train general-purpose AI models, build unrelated advertising profiles or systematically reproduce Google’s results.

Google will not have to disclose its search algorithm. The shared dataset will remove account details, search histories, precise timestamps, paid-result URLs and queries containing rare or sensitive terms. Access can carry a fee based on Google’s incremental costs and a permitted return on the capital required to provide the data.

Google must publish application information by the end of August, release draft licensing terms and test samples by September, finish the anonymized dataset by November and finalize pricing by January 2027.

Google Warns of Privacy and Security Risks

Google said the Android and Search requirements could weaken protections covering privacy, cybersecurity and device integrity. The company will be allowed to assess whether individual applicants present serious security or data-protection risks before granting access.

The Commission included user-consent requirements, independent certification and annual audits for companies receiving Search data. Google can also apply objective eligibility conditions to sensitive Android functions, including screen automation, app-data access and system integration.

The intervention extends Europe’s effort to prevent dominant platforms from reserving their strongest distribution and operating-system capabilities for in-house AI products. It also lands as technology companies face wider pressure over software access and transparency, including X’s plan to open-source its entire codebase.