EU demands Google share search data and open Android to AI rivals, Google cites privacy concerns

This directive, issued under the EU's Digital Markets Act DMA, aims to foster competition and provide users with more choices. Google is required to begin sharing search data by January 2027, with Android changes for users starting in July 2027. EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen stated that these measures are expected to encourage alternatives to Google Search and its AI services like Gemini, enabling users to choose their preferred AI chatbot via voice commands.

Google, however, has expressed concerns, with its head of global affairs Kent Walker stating that the measures introduce "unprecedented risks to user privacy, device security, and national security." He argued that sharing search data could expose private searches to unfamiliar companies without adequate anonymization or user consent. A senior European official countered that the EU has prioritized integrity, security, and privacy, and the decision ensures anonymization of search data.

This demand is legally binding but is not a formal probe that could lead to fines. Separately, sources indicate the EU might impose a fine on Google next week in another DMA investigation. The EU has previously fined Google a total of 8.2 billion euros between 2017 and 2019 under different competition rules, and a 2.95 billion euro fine in September last year in an antitrust case.