EU orders Google to open Android and Search to rival AI assistants and search engines under DMA

The European Union has ordered Google to give rival AI assistants and search engines deeper access to Android and Google Search data, in two decisions issued Thursday under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The rulings could reshape how users in the EU interact with their Android devices and which search engines or AI chatbots they can use.

Android: Rival assistants get system-level access

The first proceeding focuses on Android, requiring Google to provide third-party AI assistants—such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity—with the same system features and data access that Gemini enjoys. That means competitors could integrate with core device functions like voice commands (e.g., responding to "Hey Google"), interacting with other apps, and using hardware capabilities like cameras or microphones. Crucially, users, not Google, would decide which assistant gets those permissions, potentially making a rival assistant the default or deeply embedded option on Android phones.

The EU says this interoperability requirement is designed to prevent Google from leveraging its control over Android to favor Gemini over competitors. Google has argued that such broad access poses privacy and security risks, but regulators note that Google can still vet which services get deeper integration to ensure safety.

Search data: Opening the Google Search index to competitors

The second decision addresses Google Search itself. The EU says Google must share search data—including query logs, ranking signals, and clickstream data—with competing search engines and, notably, AI chatbots that function as search engines. This mirrors remedies in the US antitrust case against Google, where similar data-sharing was ordered.

For AI chatbots like ChatGPT or Perplexity, access to Google's search data could dramatically improve their ability to answer real-time queries and cite authoritative sources. The EU says the data must be provided in a way that allows rivals to train their models or improve search results without recreating Google's infrastructure.

Broader implications and pushback

Google has publicly opposed both measures, arguing they could compromise user privacy and security. But the EU counters that it imposes limits on how data can be used and that Google retains vetting rights for access to Android's deeper features.

The decisions also signal how Brussels may treat other gatekeepers. Apple has already delayed the release of Siri AI in Europe, explicitly citing DMA interoperability rules as a security concern. The EU's moves against Google could set a precedent for requiring Apple to open iOS and Siri to rivals.

"With today's measures, we want to support innovation and diversity in the European Union, enabling fair competition in the markets of AI assistant for Android devices and search engines," said Henna Virkkunen, European Commission executive vice president for tech sovereignty, security, and democracy.

The rulings are enforcement actions under the DMA, not financial penalties, meaning Google must change its operations or face future fines. The timeline for compliance was not specified in the decisions, but the EU will likely set deadlines soon.