Brussels forces Google to open Android to AI rivals and share search data
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The European Commission has opened two procedures against Google to force the tech giant to provide equal access to the Android functionalities used by Gemini and to share search data with competitors. The decision could reshape the mobile AI and search services market.
Brussels, January 27, 2026 – The European Commission today opened two sets of specification procedures to assist Google in complying with its obligations under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The procedures formalize the Commission's regulatory dialogue with Google regarding certain aspects of its compliance with two DMA obligations.
In short:
The EU Commission opens procedures for Google's compliance with DMA
The first procedure concerns AI interoperability on the Android operating system
The second procedure concerns the sharing of Google Search data
AI chatbots could gain access to search data
The procedures will conclude in six months
The measures do not exclude possible future fines for non-compliance
The first set of procedures concerns Google's obligation under Article 6(7) of the DMA to provide third-party developers with free and effective interoperability with the hardware and software functionalities controlled by Google's Android operating system. Today's procedures focus on the functionalities used by Google's own Artificial Intelligence services, such as Gemini. The Commission intends to specify how Google should grant third-party AI service providers access to the same functionalities, as effectively as those available for its own Google services. The goal is to ensure that third-party providers have an equal opportunity to innovate and compete in the rapidly evolving AI landscape on smart mobile devices.
The second set of procedures concerns Google's obligation under Article 6(11) of the DMA to grant third-party online search engine providers access to anonymized ranking data, queries, clicks, and views obtained from Google Search on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. These procedures focus on the scope of the data, the anonymization method, access conditions, and the eligibility of AI chatbot providers to access the data. Effective compliance and access to a useful dataset will allow third-party online search engine providers to improve and optimize their services and offer users real alternatives to Google Search.
"Artificial Intelligence tools are transforming the way we search and receive information online on our smartphones and even the way we interact with our devices. This creates new opportunities. We want to maximize the potential and benefits of this profound technological transformation, ensuring that the playing field is open and fair, not tilted in favor of the largest. With today's procedures, we want to help Google by explaining in more detail how it should comply with its interoperability and online search data sharing obligations under the Digital Markets Act," said Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice President for Clean, Just, and Competitive Transition.
"Millions of Europeans rely daily on online search engines and increasingly on AI services. Today's procedures under the Digital Markets Act will provide guidance for Google to ensure that third-party online search engines and AI providers enjoy the same access to search data and the Android operating system as Google's own services, such as Google Search or Gemini. Our goal is to keep the AI market open, to unlock competition on merit, and to promote innovation, to the benefit of consumers and businesses," said Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice President for Technological Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy.
The Commission will conclude the procedures within six months of their opening. In the next three months, the Commission will communicate its preliminary findings to Google, establishing the draft measures it intends to impose on Google to effectively comply with the DMA. Non-confidential summaries of the preliminary findings and proposed measures will be published to allow third parties to provide comments.
These procedures, which by their nature do not take a position on compliance with the DMA, do not affect the Commission's powers to adopt a decision that finds non-compliance with any of the obligations set out in the DMA by a gatekeeper, including the possibility of imposing fines or periodic penalty payments.
The DMA aims to ensure contestable and fair markets in the digital sector. It regulates gatekeepers, which are large digital platforms that provide a significant gateway between business users and consumers, whose position can give them the power to create a bottleneck in the digital economy.
On September 6, 2023, the European Commission designated Google Search, Google Play, Google Maps, YouTube, the Google Android operating system, Google Chrome, Google Shopping, and Google's online advertising services as core platform services. Google must fully comply with all applicable DMA obligations regarding the designated services starting from March 7, 2024.
The Commission has published an annual report on the implementation of the DMA and the progress made in achieving its objectives.
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