The European Union is wasting no time leveraging its landmark Digital Markets Act (DMA) to rein in Big Tech. Following several months of deliberation, the European Commission has announced new “specification measures” that will force Google to support interoperability and competition within the EU, a move the search giant claims could undermine user privacy.
Opening Android to Rival AI
Under the new mandates, Google must open up system-level access to competing AI platforms on Android devices. Currently, Google’s Gemini assistant enjoys preferential treatment, including preloading on certified phones and exclusive response to the “Hey Google” hot word. The Commission pointed out that third-party AI assistants are currently limited in their ability to offer innovative services, affecting approximately 60% of EU users who own Android devices.
Regulators insist that users should be able to install an AI system of their choice without losing core system features, asserting that these measures are designed to preserve device integrity while fostering innovation.
Breaking the Search Monopoly
The mandates for Google Search may have even broader implications. Google will be forced to share search data with competing providers for a reasonable fee, aiming to loosen its “iron grip” on the market. Crucially, the Commission has ruled that AI chatbots must be treated as search services for data-sharing purposes. This transparency is intended to give smaller players access to metrics similar to those Google uses to maintain its dominance.
Google’s Stance and Deadlines
Google has been vocally opposed to these final rules. Kent Walker, Google’s president of global affairs, argued that the Commission’s path goes too far and risks undermining vital security guardrails. Walker specifically highlighted concerns that granting non-Gemini platforms deeper integration could circumvent existing safeguards and threaten national security.
Despite these objections, the decisions are legally binding. Google must begin sharing search data with competitors by January 2027, while the Android platform must be updated for deeper AI integration by July 2027.
