The European Commission has directed Google to provide rival technology companies, including OpenAI, with access to 11 key Android operating system features and to share anonymised search data used to improve its search services, marking one of the bloc’s most significant competition measures under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The binding requirements are aimed at reducing Google’s market dominance while creating a more level playing field for competing AI assistants and search providers across the European Union.
The measures were unveiled after months of regulatory proceedings launched earlier this year to define how Google should comply with the DMA, the EU’s landmark legislation governing large digital platforms designated as “gatekeepers.” Under the new framework, eligible competitors will be able to integrate more deeply with Android devices and gain access to certain Google Search data under regulated conditions designed to encourage innovation and consumer choice.
The decision means competing AI assistants could eventually perform tasks on Android devices with functionality comparable to Google’s own Gemini assistant, while qualifying search providers will receive access to anonymised search information on fair and non-discriminatory terms. Brandspur Brand News understands the European Commission believes the move will strengthen competition in both artificial intelligence and online search without compromising the safeguards established under the Digital Markets Act.
According to the Commission, the interoperability requirements cover 11 Android capabilities considered essential for advanced AI services, including system invocation, contextual awareness, task execution across applications and access to hardware and software resources. The regulator said users will retain control over whether competing AI assistants can access these features, with explicit consent required where applicable.
Google has criticised the new obligations, arguing that broader access to Android capabilities and search-related information could expose millions of European users to greater privacy and cybersecurity risks. The company maintains that any interoperability framework must preserve strong security protections even as regulators push for increased competition within the digital ecosystem.
The Commission, however, has maintained that only eligible competitors meeting the DMA’s requirements will benefit from the measures and that appropriate safeguards will remain in place. EU officials say the objective is not to weaken user protections but to ensure dominant technology platforms do not unfairly limit access to critical digital infrastructure needed by competing services.
The latest action underscores the European Union’s broader campaign to regulate the influence of major technology companies through the Digital Markets Act. The law imposes special obligations on designated gatekeepers to prevent anti-competitive conduct and expand opportunities for smaller technology firms, particularly in rapidly growing sectors such as artificial intelligence.
Implementation will be phased, with search data sharing expected to begin before the Android interoperability requirements are fully rolled out. The decision is expected to reshape competition in Europe’s AI and mobile software markets by enabling rival developers to build services that integrate more seamlessly with Android devices while giving consumers greater choice beyond Google’s own ecosystem.
