EU Moves to Open Google’s Search Data as DMA Enforcement Sharpens

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In preliminary findings published this week, the European Commission said Google should provide third-party search engines with access to core datasets (ranking, query, click, and view data) on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms. The goal is straightforward, even if the execution will not be: give competitors the tools they need to challenge Google Search in a market long defined by its dominance.

The proposal reflects a growing recognition among regulators that data, not just scale, sits at the heart of competition in digital markets. Search data in particular has become a critical input, especially as traditional search begins to merge with AI-driven services.

Turning Principles Into Practice

The Digital Markets Act was designed to curb the power of so-called gatekeepers, but its broad obligations are now being translated into more detailed rules. This latest step focuses on how, in practical terms, Google would need to open up its search ecosystem.

The Commission’s proposal addresses a range of operational questions that could determine whether the rules have real impact. It outlines who should qualify for access (referred to as “data beneficiaries”) explicitly including AI chatbots with search capabilities. It also defines the types of data that should be shared, how often it should be made available, and the technical means of access.

Just as importantly, the proposal attempts to set guardrails. It calls for measures to ensure personal data is anonymized, and for pricing structures that remain fair and non-discriminatory. It also sketches out the processes that would govern how third parties request and maintain access.

Taken together, the framework is meant to move beyond theory and into something workable—an effort to ensure that access to data is not just promised, but usable.

The Commission is now seeking feedback from across the market, opening a public consultation that runs until May 1. That input will help shape the final measures, which are due to be adopted by July 27, 2026. Once finalized, the decision will be binding on Google.

The current proceedings do not, on their own, determine whether Google has breached the DMA. But they sit alongside the Commission’s broader enforcement powers, which remain available should non-compliance be identified.

A Market in Transition

The timing of the move is notable. Search is no longer just about links and rankings, it is increasingly intertwined with AI systems that rely on vast amounts of data to function effectively.

“Data is a key input for online search and for developing new services, including AI,” said Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition. “Access to this data should not be restricted in ways that could harm competition.”

Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, pointed to the same shift, noting that the Commission is looking for practical ways to ensure search providers can continue to innovate as the market evolves.

From Designation to Enforcement

Google’s obligations under the DMA stem from its designation as a gatekeeper in September 2023, when the Commission identified several of its services, including Google Search, as core platform services. Full compliance requirements came into force in March 2024.

Since then, the focus has gradually shifted from defining obligations to enforcing them. The specification proceedings launched in January 2026, of which these measures form a part, signal a move into a more detailed phase of oversight.

For Google, the stakes are clear. For competitors, particularly those building AI-driven search alternatives, the outcome could determine whether meaningful competition is possible. For regulators, the challenge is more subtle but no less significant: ensuring that access to data is not just mandated, but effective in practice.

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