Google must offer AI competitors equal access to features on Android devices, and third-party search engines must have access to its search data, the EU has stipulated.
The two sets of binding specification measures are issued by the Commission to Google under the Digital Markets Act, the EU’s internet rules.
The aim of the first specification measures is to ensure that competitors’ Artificial Intelligence (AI) services can compete with Google’s own AI services, such as Gemini, by having equal access to features on Google’s Android devices.
The aim of the second specification measures is to rebalance the playing field by giving third-party search engines access to search data that only Google Search can collect at scale.
Currently, on Android phones, competitors’ AI assistants only have restricted access to key functionalities of the Google Android operating system. Without this access, alternative AI assistants are not competing on an equal footing with Google’s own AI services that have full access. Third-party AI assistants are therefore limited in how they can offer their innovative services, making them less attractive to 60% of The E U says its decision will ensure that users can activate their preferred AI assistant via voice commands, similar to the “Hey Google” command. Users will be able to use third-party AI assistants to perform actions in apps on their behalf. For instance, they will be able to delegate tasks such as booking a taxi, receive suggestions for relevant replies in chat apps, or ask the AI assistant about a recently visited place. Importantly, the measures incorporate robust safeguards to ensure that the privacy of users, device integrity and security are protected.
As for the second decision, this specifies how Google should share search data with other search engines. With data sharing seen as crucial for the development and optimisation of third-party search engines, the Commission says it helps to create a more level playing field with Google Search, and fosters innovative search services, which includes privacy-focused alternatives.
The decision provides guidance on several key aspects which have made Google’s data sharing offer ineffective so far. For example, it specifies that AI chatbots offering search functionalities are eligible to receive shared data, and that, subject to anonymisation, Google should share the same data that it collects to optimise its own search services.
The decision ensures anonymisation of search data. It sets out a multi-layered method to anonymise the shared data, developed in close collaboration with internal and external privacy experts and in line with the draft Joint Guidelines on the interplay of the DMA and GDPR by the Commission and the European Data Protection Board. The decision further allows Google to assess, before sharing any data, whether sharing such data with a specific third party poses serious cyber security and data protection risks. Depending on future market developments, including based on independent third-party evaluation, the Commission may amend today’s decision in particular as regards the relevant anonymisation measures.
Lastly, the measures lay out a fair formula to calculate the price of the shared data, and a transparent process for accessing the data.
“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 EC executive vice-president Henna Virkkunen: “Thanks to these measures we hope to see emerging alternatives to Google Search and Google’s AI services, such as Gemini, and that users in the EU can enjoy greater choice of services.”
Q&A on the Interoperability with Google Android specification decision
