The European Commission has issued binding measures requiring Alphabet’s Google to open key Android features to competing AI assistants and share segments of its search data with rival search engines. Announced on Thursday, these regulations represent a significant step in the European Union’s ongoing effort to regulate the power of tech “gatekeepers” under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Mandated Changes to Android and AI Access
The European Commission determined that non-Google AI agents currently cannot function on Android devices with the same capability as Google’s Gemini. To address this, the new rules mandate that Google must allow third-party AI assistants to be activated via voice commands, mirroring the current “Hey Google” functionality. Additionally, Google must enable these competing AI assistants to perform background tasks, such as booking restaurant reservations through third-party applications. Henna Virkkunen, an executive vice president at the European Commission overseeing tech, stated that these measures aim to foster innovation and diversity by enabling fair access to AI features, providing European users with a wider range of service options.
Search Data Sharing Requirements
Beyond Android integration, the commission has ordered Google to begin sharing anonymized search data with eligible search engine providers.
Officials noted that Google’s current data-sharing practices have been ineffective, necessitating these new, legally binding requirements. The commission stated that this data is crucial for the development and optimization of third-party search engines, as Google currently controls a volume of user data that competitors cannot match. Google is required to begin this data sharing by January 2027, with the broader Android integration changes expected to be implemented by July 2027.
For more on this story, see Google Teases Pixel 11 With Pixel Glow Feature and Higher Starting Price.
Industry Response and Regulatory Strategy
The ruling has drawn criticism from Google’s leadership. Kent Walker, president of global affairs for Google and Alphabet, argued that the new rules could compromise user privacy and security by removing safeguards the company previously built to vet third-party AI assistants. According to Walker, the mandate could expose private searches to unfamiliar companies without adequate anonymization or user consent, potentially endangering business trade secrets and national security. The timeline for compliance marks a distinct regulatory outcome for Google compared to other tech giants. While the European Commission denied Apple an 18-month extension to build a compliant version of its Siri AI, Google has been granted a grace period extending into 2027. This allows Google to continue expanding its Gemini AI while it negotiates technical details with the EU.
This follows our earlier report, Google Pixel Buds: New Generation Rumors.
Context of the Digital Markets Act
These mandates are part of the EU’s broader regulatory framework, which has established the 27-nation bloc as a leader in checking the influence of major tech companies. Recent regulatory actions under the DMA have included forcing Apple to improve device interoperability and demanding that Meta remove addictive features
such as infinite scrolling.
While Google has the option to challenge the commission’s decision in court, the company has not publicly stated its intent to do so. The European Commission maintains that these measures are essential to level the playing field and ensure users have meaningful alternatives to Google’s existing ecosystem.
Read also: Google Wallet Adds Online Order Tracking in the US.
Compliance Timeline
| Requirement | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Sharing anonymized search data | January 2027 |
| Android AI integration and functionality | July 2027 |
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