EU Forces Google to Open Android AI and Share Search Data Under New DMA Rules

The European Commission has unveiled new measures under its Digital Markets Act (DMA) that will compel Google to open its Android platform to competing AI services and increase competition in search. The legally binding decisions mark the latest escalation in Europe's ongoing effort to rein in Big Tech.

Since the DMA came into force in 2024, regulators have wasted little time flexing their new authority. Apple, Meta, and Google have all faced steep fines and orders to alter their business practices. The latest measures, announced after months of consideration, target two core areas of Google's ecosystem: Android smartphones and search.

Opening Android to Rival AI Platforms

Under the new specification measures, Google must open up access to competing AI platforms on Android devices. Currently, the company's own AI assistant, Gemini, enjoys preferential treatment across the operating system. Gemini comes preloaded on all Google-certified Android phones and activates in response to the "Hey Google" voice command.

Beyond basic voice activation, Google's AI also benefits from deeper system integration. Gemini has access to system and app automation features, screen content, and other capabilities that give it a structural advantage over potential rivals. The EU's new requirements could theoretically level the playing field by giving third-party AI platforms similar access to these system-level features.

Google's Objections and the Gatekeeper Designation

Google has pushed back against the measures, arguing that the changes could undermine user privacy and security. However, the company has limited room to maneuver. Under the DMA, Google holds the designation of a "gatekeeper," a status assigned to companies that control critical digital platforms. The European Commission emphasized that its new decisions are legally binding, leaving Google with no choice but to comply.

The specification measures represent a significant step in the EU's broader strategy to ensure that dominant tech platforms do not leverage their market position to stifle competition. By requiring Google to share access to the system-level capabilities that currently give Gemini its edge, regulators aim to create genuine consumer choice in the AI assistant space.

A Continuing Pattern of EU Enforcement

The DMA has quickly become one of Europe's most powerful tools for regulating Big Tech. Since the legislation took effect in 2024, the European Commission has used it to challenge practices across multiple major technology companies. Apple and Meta have already faced substantial fines, and regulators have previously signaled that several gatekeepers were falling short of their compliance obligations.

For Google, the new measures add to a growing list of DMA-related challenges. The company must now navigate requirements that strike at the heart of its mobile strategy — the tight integration between Android, its AI assistant, and its search engine.

As the EU continues to enforce the DMA, the technology landscape in Europe may shift in ways that ripple far beyond the continent. Will these measures truly foster competition, or will they create new complications for users and developers alike? Share this article and join the conversation about the future of digital regulation.

Source: Ars Technica