EU Orders Google to Open Android and Search Access to Rivals

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European regulators are pushing deeper into the infrastructure behind Google’s AI and search products. According to The Verge, the European Union has ordered Google to comply with the Digital Markets Act by giving rivals more comparable access to key parts of Android and Google Search. The decisions do not simply impose a fine; they require changes to how Google operates two of its most important platforms.

Key points

• Android must become more interoperable for AI assistants: Google will need to give rival assistants access to system features and data in a way comparable to what it provides to Gemini. In practical terms, users in the EU could eventually choose services such as ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, or other assistants as more deeply integrated system-level assistants.
• Device-level capabilities are central: The ruling points to functions such as interacting with apps, responding to voice commands like “Hey Google,” and making fuller use of phone hardware. The EU’s principle is that users, not Google’s default preferences, should decide which assistant can use these capabilities.
• Search data must be made available to competitors: A separate proceeding requires Google to share certain search-generated data with rival search engines and some AI services. The EU specifically notes that AI chatbots can function as search engines in some contexts.
• The implementation timeline runs through 2027: Google must begin sharing search data by January 2027 and implement Android-related changes by July 2027.
• Noncompliance could be costly: If Google fails to meet the DMA requirements, the European Commission could impose fines of up to 10 percent of the company’s annual worldwide turnover.

Google’s objections and the EU’s position

Google has pushed back against both measures. Its central argument is that broader access could weaken privacy and security protections and compromise the integrity of its products. Kent Walker, Google’s president of global affairs, said the decisions risk undermining important safeguards for millions of Europeans.

The EU’s answer is that access will not be unlimited. Search data usage will be subject to restrictions, and Google will be able to vet services seeking deeper Android access to ensure safety and security are not undermined. The regulatory goal is not unrestricted access, but competitive access under controlled conditions.

Why it matters

The Android decision is especially important because AI assistants are moving from standalone apps toward operating-system-level interfaces. If a third-party assistant can obtain access closer to Gemini’s, it can become a real alternative layer for everyday mobile interaction rather than a feature trapped inside an app icon.

The search decision could also matter for emerging AI search products. Access to search-related data may lower barriers for competing search engines and chatbot-based services, though the final impact will depend on what data is shared, who qualifies, and how the technical interfaces are built.

More broadly, the rulings show how the EU is extending DMA enforcement into the next generation of platform control: AI assistants, data access, and default system integration. The outcome may also signal how Brussels will approach similar disputes involving other large technology companies, including Apple, which has already blamed DMA interoperability requirements for delaying Siri AI features in Europe.

Source: The Verge AI