The European Union has ordered Google to give rival AI assistants and search engines greater access to Android and Google Search, in a pair of rulings handed down on July 16, 2026, that could significantly weaken the company’s grip on two of its most important platforms.
The decisions stem from the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which requires dominant platforms — designated “gatekeepers” — to give competitors access to systems and data comparable to what they provide themselves. The proceedings were developed through extensive engagement between Google and regulators, and require Google to change how it operates rather than simply pay a fine. If Google does not comply, the European Commission could impose fines of up to 10 percent of its annual worldwide turnover, potentially reaching tens of billions of dollars.
The Android ruling requires Google to give rival AI assistants the same system features and data access it provides to its own Gemini assistant. In practice, this means Android users could choose alternatives such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity as deeply integrated system assistants, with comparable access to device capabilities including app interaction, voice commands, and hardware. The Search ruling requires Google to share data generated by Google Search with competing search engines and AI services, including AI chatbots, which the EU said can function as search engines in some cases. Google has until January 2027 to begin sharing search data and until July 2027 to implement Android changes.
Google has pushed back against both rulings, arguing the requirements pose unacceptable risks to user privacy and security. Google’s president of global affairs Kent Walker said the decisions “risk undermining vital privacy and security guardrails for millions of Europeans.” The EU said limits will be placed on how search data can be used and that Google will be able to vet which services receive deeper Android access.
The rulings may also signal how the EU will approach similar questions involving other tech companies. Apple, for instance, declined to release its Siri AI in Europe, citing DMA interoperability requirements as a compromise to user safety.
“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 European Commission executive vice president Henna Virkkunen.
Source: The Verge