EU Orders Google to Open Android and Share Search Data

The European Commission issued two legally binding orders on July 16, 2026, requiring Google to curb the competitive advantage of its Gemini AI and open its search ecosystem to rivals. Acting under the Digital Markets Act, the Commission mandated that Google grant third-party AI assistants—such as ChatGPT and Claude—the same system-level Android integration reserved for Gemini, including custom wake words, screen-reading capabilities, and cross-app task execution. These changes must be implemented by July 2027, specifically for the Android 18 release.

Additionally, Google must provide anonymized ranking, query, click, and view data to competing search engines and AI chatbots on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms starting in January 2027. The Commission established a fair pricing formula and a transparent access process to support the development of European AI alternatives.

Kent Walker, President of Global Affairs for Google and Alphabet, opposed the measures, arguing they risk undermining privacy and security guardrails and could expose private searches to unfamiliar companies. Google senior competition counsel Clare Kelly added that the rules could compromise innovation. Conversely, the Commission maintained that the rules include robust safeguards and are necessary to foster diversity in the EU market. Industry leaders from Ecosia and Qwant praised the decision as a necessary behavioral remedy to break the monopoly. Non-compliance could result in penalties of up to 10% of Google's annual global revenue.