EU DIRECTS GOOGLE TO OPEN ANDROID PLATFORM TO COMPETING AI SERVICES

The European Union has ordered Google to share certain search data with rival search engines and open its Android operating system to competing artificial intelligence services, as part of efforts to promote fair competition in the technology sector.

The directive, announced on Thursday, was issued under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), legislation designed to curb the dominance of major technology companies and give consumers greater choice.

Under the new requirements, Google must begin sharing search data with competitors from January 2027, while Android users across the European Union are expected to benefit from broader access to alternative AI services from July 2027.

EU Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, said the measures are intended to encourage competition by creating opportunities for alternatives to Google Search and Google’s AI platform, Gemini.

According to the EU, Android users should be able to choose and activate their preferred AI assistants through voice commands instead of being limited to Google’s default services.

Google, however, criticised the decision, warning that the measures could compromise user privacy, device security, and national security.

The company’s President of Global Affairs, Kent Walker, argued that requiring Google to share search data could expose users’ private searches to third-party companies without adequate safeguards.

Walker also maintained that competing AI assistants already have access to Android, questioning the necessity of the new requirements.

European officials rejected Google’s concerns, insisting that strict privacy protections and data anonymisation measures would be implemented to safeguard users’ information.

Although the order is legally binding, it is part of an ongoing compliance process rather than a formal antitrust investigation that could immediately result in financial penalties.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that Google could face additional sanctions next week in a separate investigation under the Digital Markets Act.

The EU has the authority to impose fines of up to 10 per cent of a company’s global annual turnover for violations of the legislation.

Google has previously faced several major penalties from the European Commission, including more than €8.2 billion in competition-related fines between 2017 and 2019, as well as a €2.95 billion antitrust fine imposed last year.