Under the Android measures, Google must make 11 features available to competing AI assistants so they can access key functions and compete more directly with Gemini. The changes are expected to let users activate a rival assistant by voice command, in a way similar to the “hey Google” command, and use it for tasks such as booking a taxi or searching for information about places.
Those Android changes are set to reach users in July 2027 in the next version of Android. The Commission said access will come with safeguards for privacy and device security, and that Google will only provide the features to rivals that meet security and privacy requirements.
The Search decision requires Google to share data it uses to improve its own search services with rival search engines and AI chatbots that include search functions, including OpenAI. The data sharing will be subject to anonymisation, and Google will be allowed to assess whether competitors create cybersecurity or data protection risks before granting access.
That measure is scheduled to start in January next year. The Commission said the decision includes a formula for calculating the price of the shared data.
“Thanks to these measures we hope to see emerging alternatives to Google Search and Google’s AI services, such as Gemini, and that users in the EU can enjoy greater choice of services,” EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said in a statement.
Google criticized the rulings and argued that the mandated access could weaken protections for users. “Today’s decisions risk undermining vital privacy and security guardrails for millions of Europeans,” Google lawyer Kent Walker said in an email. “We have repeatedly offered solutions to safeguard users while satisfying the DMA’s goals, but these rulings discount extensive evidence of user harm,” he said.
The decisions put Google’s AI and search businesses under direct regulatory pressure in Europe as AI assistants become a larger part of how users navigate phones and online services. For rivals, the orders could create a path to deeper Android integration and access to search-related data that has historically supported Google’s own products.
For Google, the implementation fight is likely to center on how far comparable access must go while still preserving security controls. The Commission’s position is that the measures can expand competition without removing safeguards, while Google says the risks to privacy and security remain significant.
This analysis is based on reporting from CNBC.
Image courtesy of Communications Today.
This article was generated with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy and quality.
