EU mandates Google share search data and open Android AI
▼ Summary
– The European Commission has announced new measures under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) targeting Google’s Android and search businesses to increase competition.
– As a designated “gatekeeper,” Google is legally required to comply with these binding decisions, despite claiming they undermine privacy and security.
– On Android, Google must open access to competing AI platforms, as its Gemini AI currently has preferential system access and features.
– The Commission argues that third-party AI assistants are limited on Android, making them less attractive to 60% of EU Android users.
– The measures aim to let users install any AI system without losing features, though Google raises concerns about data privacy and security risks.
Europe has swiftly leveraged its groundbreaking Digital Markets Act (DMA) to impose stricter controls on Big Tech. Since the legislation took effect in 2024, companies such as Apple, Meta, and Google have faced substantial fines and mandates to overhaul their business operations. The regulatory pressure shows no sign of easing. Following months of deliberation, the European Commission has unveiled new DMA specifications targeting Google’s core services, compelling the tech giant to foster interoperability and competition within the European Union. Unsurprisingly, Google has voiced strong objections.
These newly announced “specification measures” focus on two critical areas of Google’s ecosystem: Android smartphones and online search. In theory, both directives aim to level the playing field, granting users broader choices and boosting market competition. Yet Google argues that these requirements will compromise user privacy and device security. Under the DMA, however, Google is classified as a “gatekeeper,” leaving it with no real alternative but to comply. The European Commission has emphasized that these decisions carry full legal force.
For Android, the most significant change involves granting rival AI platforms equal access to system-level features. Currently, Google’s Gemini assistant enjoys privileged integration. It comes preinstalled on all Google-certified Android devices and activates via the “Hey Google” hotword. Gemini also possesses deep system access, including the ability to automate apps, read screen content, and perform complex tasks.
“Third-party AI assistants are therefore limited in how they can offer their innovative services, making them less attractive to the 60% of EU users who own an Android device,” the Commission stated in its official release.
Whether mobile AI truly qualifies as groundbreaking innovation remains a matter of opinion. Nevertheless, EU regulators insist that users must have the freedom to install any AI assistant they prefer without sacrificing core functionality. The Commission claims these measures are carefully crafted to protect user privacy and device integrity. Of course, generative AI thrives on data, and installing an alternative assistant means granting that model access to your personal information. While Google may not be a perfect steward, it is at least a familiar one.
(Source: Ars Technica)
