The European Union announces new requirements for Google under competition and digital market rules. The EU tells the company it must share anonymized search data with certain rivals and open Android so that competing AI assistants and related services can operate more effectively on Android phones. EU officials say the changes are intended to “rebalance the playing field,” arguing that Google’s control of large volumes of user data and its integration with Android give it an advantage that competitors cannot match. The EU also states that Google must let voice-activated alternative AI agents function on Android at levels comparable to Google’s own offerings and allow them to perform background actions through third-party apps.
Google disputes the proposals, arguing they could create privacy and security risks. The company says sharing search-related information with other firms may expose users’ private searches, potentially without sufficient user knowledge or consent, and could weaken safeguards around third-party AI assistants. Google also raises concerns about protecting trade secrets and national security.
The reported obligations include a timeline in which anonymized search data sharing is expected to begin by January 2027, alongside near-term Android access and interoperability changes.
