EU Moves to Spell Out Google’s DMA Duties on Android AI Access & Search Data Sharing

Key Takeaways

• DMA Compliance Enters a More Technical Phase: The European Commission has opened formal specification proceedings to clarify how Google must comply with interoperability and data-sharing obligations under the Digital Markets Act, without yet taking a position on non-compliance.
• Android AI Access Under the Microscope: Regulators are focusing on how Google’s Android operating system supports its own AI services, such as Gemini, and how those same features should be made equally accessible to third-party AI providers.
• Search Data Sharing Gets More Defined: The Commission is moving to specify what anonymized search data Google must share with rival search engines, how it should be anonymized, and whether AI chatbot providers should also qualify for access.
• Competition in AI Is a Central Concern: Officials framed the proceedings as a way to prevent AI innovation on mobile devices and in search from becoming structurally skewed toward the largest platforms.
• Enforcement Remains on the Table: While the proceedings are intended to clarify compliance expectations, the Commission retains full powers to pursue formal non-compliance decisions, fines, or periodic penalty payments if obligations are not met.

Deep Dive

The European Commission has opened two formal proceedings aimed at clarifying how Google must meet its obligations under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), sharpening the focus on how the company runs Android and Google Search at a moment when AI is rapidly reshaping both.

Announced in Brussels, the move formalizes an ongoing regulatory dialogue between the Commission and Google. Rather than accusing the company of breaching the law, the proceedings are designed to pin down what compliance should look like in practice, and to remove uncertainty around how some of the DMA’s most technically complex provisions are meant to work.

One strand of the proceedings zeroes in on Android. Under Article 6(7) of the DMA, gatekeepers are required to give third-party developers free and effective interoperability with hardware and software features they control. In Google’s case, the Commission is looking closely at Android features that underpin the company’s own AI services, including Gemini, and asking how those same capabilities should be opened up to rivals.

The Commission’s concern is that as AI becomes more deeply embedded in smartphones, access to operating-system features could quietly become a new bottleneck. By specifying how Google should grant third-party AI providers access to the same Android features its own services rely on, regulators say they want to ensure competitors have a real chance to innovate, rather than being left to build around structural disadvantages baked into the platform.

The second set of proceedings shifts the spotlight to online search. Article 6(11) of the DMA obliges Google to share certain search-related data with competing providers on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms. Here, the Commission is digging into the details: what anonymized ranking, query, click, and view data from Google Search should be shared, how that data should be anonymized, who should be eligible to receive it, and under what conditions.

Regulators argue that without access to a dataset that is genuinely useful, alternative search engines and emerging AI-driven services will struggle to improve their offerings or present meaningful alternatives to users. The proceedings are intended to define those parameters clearly enough that access is not just theoretical, but operational.

Commission officials framed the move as a response to how quickly AI is changing the way people interact with digital services. Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, said artificial intelligence is already transforming how users search for information and interact with their devices. The Commission’s aim, she said, is to make sure this shift does not automatically tilt the playing field in favor of the largest platforms, and that Google has clear guidance on how to meet its interoperability and data-sharing obligations.

Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, struck a similar note, pointing to the daily reliance of millions of Europeans on search engines and AI services. She said the proceedings are meant to ensure that third-party search engines and AI providers can access the same Android and search data resources as Google’s own services, keeping the AI market open and competition focused on innovation rather than entrenched advantage.

The broader context is Google’s status as a designated gatekeeper under the DMA. In September 2023, the Commission designated a wide range of Google services as core platform services, including Google Search, Android, Chrome, YouTube, Google Maps, Google Shopping, Google Play, and its online advertising services. Since March 2024, Google has been required to comply fully with the DMA obligations that apply to those services.

Procedurally, the Commission expects to wrap up both specification proceedings within six months. Within the next three months, it will send Google its preliminary findings, setting out draft measures the company would need to adopt to comply with the DMA. Non-confidential summaries of those findings and proposed measures will be published, allowing third parties to weigh in.

Crucially, the Commission stressed that the proceedings do not prejudge whether Google is currently in breach of the DMA. At the same time, they do not limit the Commission’s enforcement powers. If Google ultimately fails to meet its obligations, the regulator retains the option to adopt a formal non-compliance decision and impose fines or periodic penalty payments.

The GRC Report is your premier destination for the latest in governance, risk, and compliance news. As your reliable source for comprehensive coverage, we ensure you stay informed and ready to navigate the dynamic landscape of GRC. Beyond being a news source, the GRC Report represents a thriving community of professionals who, like you, are dedicated to GRC excellence. Explore our insightful articles and breaking news, and actively participate in the conversation to enhance your GRC journey.