EU orders Google to open Android and search data

EU imposes new interoperability rules on Google

European Union regulators have imposed binding obligations on Google that will reshape how its Android mobile operating system and search services interact with rival artificial intelligence products. Acting under the bloc’s Digital Markets Act, the European Commission ordered Google to open elements of Android so that competing AI assistants can operate on an equal footing with the company’s own services.

The decisions require that rival AI assistants be able to use key functions such as voice activation and the delegation of actions within apps. Regulators say the changes are intended to curb the power of large online platforms and give alternative AI providers a better chance to reach users on Android devices across the EU.

Under the new framework, users will be able to activate their preferred AI assistant via voice commands rather than being steered toward Google’s own tools. The rulings are binding on Google and are framed as a way to provide what regulators describe as an equal footing for non‑Google AI assistants in the mobile ecosystem.

Timelines for Android and search data changes

The European Commission has set specific deadlines for the implementation of the measures. Android interoperability changes are to be in place so that users benefit from them by July 2027, in the next iteration of the operating system.

Separately, Google has been ordered to begin sharing anonymized search engine data with competitors, including makers of AI chatbots that incorporate search capabilities. The data‑sharing obligation is scheduled to take effect from January 2027, providing rival search engines and AI tools with access to information that is currently collected at scale only through Google Search.

The Commission has set out a pricing formula for the data to be shared, while also stating that the measures include safeguards designed to protect user privacy and device security. The obligations apply to search data used to optimize search services and are aimed at reducing Google’s data advantage over competitors.

Privacy, security and competitive impact

Regulators assert that the new rules contain robust safeguards intended to protect privacy and security. Access to Android functionalities and search data is limited to rivals that meet specified security and data‑protection criteria, and the framework is structured around anonymized data sharing.

Google remains critical of the decisions. Kent Walker, the company’s general counsel, said the rulings risk undermining vital privacy and security guardrails for millions of Europeans, signaling the company’s concern over how broader access to its systems and data could affect user protections.

The measures are part of a broader EU effort to regulate large digital platforms designated as gatekeepers and to promote competition in core online services. By mandating greater interoperability on Android and opening access to search data, the rulings are set to influence how AI assistants and search‑driven chatbots develop and compete within the European market over the coming years.