It’s official: EU will force Google to share search data and open up AI on Android - Ars Technica

The European Commission has announced new binding "specification measures" under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) that will force Google to increase interoperability and competition across its Android and search businesses.
On Android, Google must open system-level access to competing AI assistants, ending the preferential treatment currently given to its Gemini assistant, which is preloaded, responds to "Hey Google," and has access to automation and screen-content features.
The Commission argued third-party AI assistants are limited in their offerings, making them less attractive to the 60% of EU users who own Android devices, and said the measures are designed to preserve user privacy and device integrity.
Google will also be required to share search data with rival search providers transparently and for a reasonable fee, after regulators concluded the company's previous sharing offers were inadequate.
The rules extend to AI chatbots, which Google must treat as search services for data-sharing purposes, potentially loosening Google's dominance over web search and helping competitors gain market share.
Google has objected to the changes, claiming they could undermine user privacy and security, but as a designated "gatekeeper" under the DMA, the company is legally obligated to comply.