EU gives Google six months to open Android and search data to rival AI services and competitors

Google troubled by EU move to help AI, search rivals access services

BRUSSELS, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Alphabet's (GOOGL.O), opens new tab Google will be given guidance by European Union antitrust regulators on how to help online search rivals and artificial intelligence developers access its services and its Gemini AI models, the European Commission said on Tuesday. Google has long faced criticism from rivals who say its market power gives it an unfair advantage, and are looking to the EU's Digital Markets Act to give them a leg up. The company rejects the allegations. "Today's proceedings under the Digital Markets Act will provide guidance to Google to ensure that third-party online search engines and AI providers enjoy the same access to search data and Android operating system as Google's own services, like Google Search or Gemini," EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said. Google expressed concerns after the Commission, the EU's competition enforcer, said it had opened two specification proceedings after discussions with the U.S. tech giant on how to comply with the DMA, which aims to rein in Big Tech's power. "Android is open by design, and we're already licensing Search data to competitors under the DMA," Clare Kelly, Google's Senior Competition Counsel, said in a statement. "However, we are concerned that further rules which are often driven by competitor grievances rather than the interest of consumers, will compromise user privacy, security, and innovation," she added. In one of the proceedings, regulators will spell out how Google should grant third-party AI service providers equally effective access to the same features as those available to its own AI services such as Gemini. In the other, the Commission will detail how Google should grant third-party providers of online search engines access to anonymised ranking, query, click and view data held by Google Search on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms, and the eligibility of AI chatbot providers to access the data. "We want to maximise the potential and the benefits of this profound technological shift by making sure the playing field is open and fair, not tilted in favour of the largest few," EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera said in a statement. Apple got similar guidance from the Commission on how it should open up its closed ecosystem to rivals two years ago. The Commission aims to wrap up proceedings within six months. Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Foo Yun Chee; Writing by Charlotte Van Campenhout; Editing by Alexander Smith Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab * Suggested Topics: * World * Antitrust * Regulatory Oversight * Data Privacy Foo Yun Chee Thomson Reuters An agenda-setting and market-moving journalist, Foo Yun Chee is a 21-year veteran at Reuters. Her stories on high profile mergers have pushed up the European telecoms index, lifted companies' shares and helped investors decide on their next move. Her knowledge and experience of European antitrust laws and developments helped her break stories on Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta and Apple, numerous market-moving mergers and antitrust investigations. She has previously reported on Greek politics and companies, when Greece's entry into the eurozone meant it punched above its weight on the international stage, as well as on Dutch corporate giants and the quirks of Dutch society and culture that never fail to charm readers.

The EU tells Google to give external AI assistants the same access to Android as Gemini has

The European Commission has started proceedings to ensure Google complies with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in certain ways. Specifically, the European Union's executive arm has told Google to grant third-party AI services the same level of access to Android that Gemini has. "The aim is to ensure that third-party providers have an equal opportunity to innovate and compete in the rapidly evolving AI landscape on smart mobile devices," the Commission said in a statement. The company will also have to hand over "anonymized ranking, query, click and view data held by Google Search" to rival search engines. The Commission says this will help competing companies to optimize their services and offer more viable alternatives to Google Search. "Today's proceedings under the Digital Markets Act will provide guidance to Google to ensure that third-party online search engines and AI providers enjoy the same access to search data and Android operating system as Google's own services, like Google Search or Gemini," said Henna Virkkunen, the Commission's executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy. "Our goal is to keep the AI market open, unlock competition on the merits and promote innovation, to the benefit of consumers and businesses." The Commission plans to wrap up these proceedings in the next six months, effectively handing Google a deadline to make all of this happen. If the company doesn't do so to the Commission's satisfaction, it may face a formal investigation and penalties down the line. The Commission can impose fines of up to 10 percent of a company's global annual revenue for a DMA violation. Google was already in hot water with the EU for allegedly favoring its own services -- such as travel, finance and shopping -- over those from rivals and stopping Google Play app developers from easily directing consumers to alternative, cheaper ways to pay for digital goods and services. The bloc charged Google with DMA violations related to those issues last March. In November, the EU opened an investigation into Google's alleged demotion of commercial content on news websites in search results. The following month, it commenced a probe into Google's AI practices, including whether the company used online publishers' material for AI Overviews and AI Mode without "appropriate compensation" or offering the ability to opt out.

EU steps in to make sure Google gives rivals access to AI services and data

BRUSSELS (AP) -- The European Union said Tuesday it's stepping in to make sure Google gives rival AI companies and search engines access to Gemini AI services and data as required by the bloc's flagship digital rulebook. The executive arm of the 27-nation bloc said it was opening up so-called " specification proceedings " to ensure that Google complies with the sweeping Digital Markets Act, which requires Big Tech companies to give smaller players equal access to hardware and software features. Brussels said part of the proceedings will specify how Google should give third-party AI companies "equally effective access to the same features" available through its own services. The EU will also look at whether Google is giving competing search engines fair and reasonable access to Google Search data. This will include whether AI chatbot providers are eligible to access to the data. The proceedings fall short of an investigation and must wrap up in six months with draft measures that Brussels will impose on Google. Clare Kelly, Google's senior competition counsel, said she was concerned about the reasons behind the procedure. "Android is open by design, and we're already licensing Search data to competitors under the DMA," Kelly said in a statement. "However, we are concerned that further rules which are often driven by competitor grievances rather than the interest of consumers, will compromise user privacy, security, and innovation." Teresa Ribera, who oversees competition affairs as executive vice president of the European Commission, says it seeks to "maximize the potential and the benefits of this profound technological shift by making sure the playing field is open and fair, not tilted in favor of the largest few." The move adds EU pressure on Google, which is facing antitrust scrutiny after the bloc's regulators last year started investigating whether the company gave itself an unfair advantage through the use of online content for its AI models and services.

EU warns Google: Gemini cannot be the only AI with deep Android integration

The Commission will issue preliminary findings within three months, along with a draft of the measures it intends to impose on Google to comply with the DMA. Google has had a few run-ins with the European Commission, and today, the company got another deadline. The European Commission has now started proceedings under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) against Google for providing third-party AI service providers with equal and effective access to Android features that it uses for Gemini, and providing third-party search engines with key Google Search data. As per the European Commission's announcement, the Commission will conclude the proceedings within six months of opening, deciding whether Google is in compliance with the DMA. Within the first three months, the Commission will share its preliminary findings and a draft of the measures it intends to impose on Google to comply with the DMA. This announcement is almost like a deadline to Google to open up access to its services, namely Android and Google Search, to stay compliant with the DMA. If Google is not compliant, formal investigations may be initiated, and a fine may be imposed under the DMA, up to 10% of global annual sales. Within the Android context, Google needs to provide third-party AI developers with equal access to the same features as those available to Google's own services, namely Gemini. The idea here is that third-party AI providers should have an equal opportunity to compete on smartphones. Similarly, Google has to provide third-party search engine rivals with access to anonymised ranking, query, click and view data held by Google Search. These proceedings focus on the eligibility of AI chatbot providers to access the data, amongst other things. This data is said to be necessary for third-party search engines to optimize their services to offer users a genuine alternative to Google Search. We've reached out to Google for a statement. We'll update this article when we learn more.

EU to show Google how to open up to rival AI services

Brussels (Belgium) (AFP) - Google must provide rival AI services equal access to its features and other search engine platforms access to data, the EU said on Tuesday, as it said it would help the giant over six months to comply with rules. The EU executive said it would launch proceedings to help Google prepare measures in line with its flagship rulebook, the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Under the DMA, the world's biggest tech companies must open up to competition to give consumers more options and limit abuses linked to market dominance. US President Donald Trump's government has railed against the law and its sister content moderation law the Digital Services Act, accusing Brussels of unfairly targeting US firms. The European Commission wants to ensure Google gives rival AI service providers equal access to its Android operating system, and demands the American titan grants competing search engines access to search data. Brussels believes the move will allow rivals "to optimise their services and offer users genuine alternatives to Google Search". The EU step is not a formal investigation that could lead to fines. But if Brussels is not satisfied with Google's efforts, it can later conclude the company is not complying. And any DMA violations can lead to fines of up to 10 percent of a company's total global turnover. "We want to help Google by explaining in more detail how it should comply with its interoperability and online search data sharing obligations under the Digital Markets Act," EU competition chief Teresa Ribera said in a statement. Google pushed back, insisting Android is open by design. "We're already licensing search data to competitors under the DMA," Google's senior competition counsel Clare Kelly said in a statement. "However, we are concerned that further rules which are often driven by competitor grievances rather than the interest of consumers, will compromise user privacy, security, and innovation." The commission said it would conclude the proceedings within six months. Google already faces a fine under the DMA for favouring its own services in a probe launched in March 2024. The giant has also been subject to a separate DMA probe since November over suspicions it pushed down news outlets in search results. The scrutiny does not end with the DMA. Google also faces cases under the bloc's competition rules. In December, the EU said it had opened a probe to assess whether Google breached antitrust rules by using content put online by media and other publishers to train and provide AI services without appropriate compensation. That came after the EU slapped Google with a 2.95-billion-euro ($3.5 billion) fine in September for breaking competition rules.

EU steps in to make sure Google gives rivals access to AI services and data

The European Union is stepping in to ensure Google gives rival AI companies and search engines access to data and Gemini AI services BRUSSELS -- The European Union said Tuesday it's stepping in to make sure Google gives rival AI companies and search engines access to Gemini AI services and data as required by the bloc's flagship digital rulebook. The executive arm of the 27-nation bloc said it was opening up so-called " specification proceedings " to ensure that Google complies with the sweeping Digital Markets Act, which requires Big Tech companies to give smaller players equal access to hardware and software features. Brussels said part of the proceedings will specify how Google should give third-party AI companies "equally effective access to the same features" available through its own services. The EU will also look at whether Google is giving competing search engines fair and reasonable access to Google Search data. This will include whether AI chatbot providers are eligible to access to the data. The proceedings fall short of an investigation and must wrap up in six months with draft measures that Brussels will impose on Google. Clare Kelly, Google's senior competition counsel, said she was concerned about the reasons behind the procedure. "Android is open by design, and we're already licensing Search data to competitors under the DMA," Kelly said in a statement. "However, we are concerned that further rules which are often driven by competitor grievances rather than the interest of consumers, will compromise user privacy, security, and innovation." Teresa Ribera, who oversees competition affairs as executive vice president of the European Commission, says it seeks to "maximize the potential and the benefits of this profound technological shift by making sure the playing field is open and fair, not tilted in favor of the largest few." The move adds EU pressure on Google, which is facing antitrust scrutiny after the bloc's regulators last year started investigating whether the company gave itself an unfair advantage through the use of online content for its AI models and services.

EU steps in to make sure Google gives rivals access to AI services and data

BRUSSELS (AP) -- The European Union said Tuesday it's stepping in to make sure Google gives rival AI companies and search engines access to Gemini AI services and data as required by the bloc's flagship digital rulebook. The executive arm of the 27-nation bloc said it was opening up so-called " specification proceedings " to ensure that Google complies with the sweeping Digital Markets Act, which requires Big Tech companies to give smaller players equal access to hardware and software features. Brussels said part of the proceedings will specify how Google should give third-party AI companies "equally effective access to the same features" available through its own services. The EU will also look at whether Google is giving competing search engines fair and reasonable access to Google Search data. This will include whether AI chatbot providers are eligible to access to the data. The proceedings fall short of an investigation and must wrap up in six months with draft measures that Brussels will impose on Google. Clare Kelly, Google's senior competition counsel, said she was concerned about the reasons behind the procedure. "Android is open by design, and we're already licensing Search data to competitors under the DMA," Kelly said in a statement. "However, we are concerned that further rules which are often driven by competitor grievances rather than the interest of consumers, will compromise user privacy, security, and innovation." Teresa Ribera, who oversees competition affairs as executive vice president of the European Commission, says it seeks to "maximize the potential and the benefits of this profound technological shift by making sure the playing field is open and fair, not tilted in favor of the largest few." The move adds EU pressure on Google, which is facing antitrust scrutiny after the bloc's regulators last year started investigating whether the company gave itself an unfair advantage through the use of online content for its AI models and services.

EU Steps in to Make Sure Google Gives Rivals Access to AI Services and Data

BRUSSELS (AP) -- The European Union said Tuesday it's stepping in to make sure Google gives rival AI companies and search engines access to Gemini AI services and data as required by the bloc's flagship digital rulebook. The executive arm of the 27-nation bloc said it was opening up so-called " specification proceedings " to ensure that Google complies with the sweeping Digital Markets Act, which requires Big Tech companies to give smaller players equal access to hardware and software features. Brussels said part of the proceedings will specify how Google should give third-party AI companies "equally effective access to the same features" available through its own services. The EU will also look at whether Google is giving competing search engines fair and reasonable access to Google Search data. This will include whether AI chatbot providers are eligible to access to the data. The proceedings fall short of an investigation and must wrap up in six months with draft measures that Brussels will impose on Google. Clare Kelly, Google's senior competition counsel, said she was concerned about the reasons behind the procedure. "Android is open by design, and we're already licensing Search data to competitors under the DMA," Kelly said in a statement. "However, we are concerned that further rules which are often driven by competitor grievances rather than the interest of consumers, will compromise user privacy, security, and innovation." Teresa Ribera, who oversees competition affairs as executive vice president of the European Commission, says it seeks to "maximize the potential and the benefits of this profound technological shift by making sure the playing field is open and fair, not tilted in favor of the largest few." The move adds EU pressure on Google, which is facing antitrust scrutiny after the bloc's regulators last year started investigating whether the company gave itself an unfair advantage through the use of online content for its AI models and services.

Google troubled by EU move to help AI, search rivals access services

EU competition regulators will give guidance on how Google must share its search data and AI tools with rivals under new digital rules. The move aims to stop Google using its size to gain an unfair advantage. Google says it already complies but warns extra rules could harm privacy, security and innovation. Alphabet's Google will be given guidance by European Union antitrust regulators on how to help online ⁠search rivals and artificial intelligence developers access its services and its Gemini AI models, the European Commission said on Tuesday. Google has long faced criticism from rivals who say its market power gives it an unfair advantage, and are looking to the EU's Digital Markets Act to give them a leg up. The company rejects the allegations. "Today's proceedings under the Digital Markets Act will provide guidance to Google to ensure that third-party online search engines and AI providers enjoy the same access to search data and Android operating system as Google's own services, like Google Search or Gemini," EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said. Google expressed concerns after the Commission, the EU's competition enforcer, said it had opened two specification proceedings after discussions with the U.S. tech giant on how to comply with the DMA, which aims to rein in Big Tech's power. "Android is open by design, and we're already licensing Search data to competitors under the DMA," Clare Kelly, Google's Senior Competition Counsel, said in a statement. "However, we are concerned that further rules which are often driven by competitor grievances rather than the interest of consumers, will compromise user privacy, security, and innovation," she added. In one of the proceedings, regulators will spell out how Google should grant third-party AI service providers equally effective access to the same features as those available to its own AI services such as Gemini. In the other, the Commission will detail how Google should grant third-party providers of online search engines access to anonymised ranking, query, click and view data held ⁠by Google Search on fair, ⁠reasonable and non-discriminatory terms, and the eligibility of AI chatbot providers to access the data. "We want to maximise the potential and the benefits of this profound technological shift by making sure the playing field is open and fair, not tilted in favour of the largest few," EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera said in a statement. Apple got similar guidance from the Commission on how it should open up its closed ecosystem to rivals two years ago. The Commission aims to wrap up proceedings within six months.

Google to Get EU Instructions on Sharing of Search Data, Android AI Tools -- 3rd Update

The European Union will tell Alphabet's Google how to give competitors access to search data and Android AI tools as it prepares guidance on complying with the bloc's digital-competition rulebook. The European Commission said Tuesday that it had opened so-called specification proceedings into Google's compliance with its Digital Markets Act, a law that it says is designed to level the playing field for companies relying on search engines and app stores to reach customers. One of the proceedings' focuses will be on features used by Google's artificial-intelligence services within the tech company's Android operating system, such as its chatbot Gemini, it said. The Commission said it would tell Google how it should grant rival AI-service providers equal access to features and tools used by Google's own services. "Our goal is to keep the AI market open, unlock competition on the merits and promote innovation, to the benefit of consumers and businesses," Henna Virkkunen, the EU's top tech regulator, said in a statement Tuesday. The commission also said it would assist Google with complying with provisions that concern how the company lets competing search engines access datasets for areas such as ranking and queries held by Google Search. The watchdog said it plans to wrap up the proceedings within six months. It issued guidance to Apple under a similar legal process last year. The DMA sets out a list of do's and don'ts for the world's largest tech groups. Companies can face fines of up to 10% of their annual worldwide turnover for falling foul of the rules. "Android is open by design, and we're already licensing Search data to competitors under the DMA," Clare Kelly, Google's senior competition counsel for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said in a statement. "However, we are concerned that further rules which are often driven by competitor grievances rather than the interest of consumers, will compromise user privacy, security and innovation." It comes as the commission's competition regulator has increased its scrutiny of tech giants' deployment of AI tools in recent months. EU officials last year started investigating Google over how it uses content online to power tools such as its AI Overviews.

EU to Provide Google With Data-Sharing Compliance Guidance -- Update

The European Union has launched a new legal process to help Alphabet's Google comply with the bloc's digital-competition rulebook. The European Commission said Tuesday that it had opened so-called specification proceedings into Google's compliance with the Digital Markets Act, a law designed to level the playing field for companies that rely on search engines and app stores to reach customers. One of the proceedings' focus will be on features used by Google's artificial-intelligence services within the tech company's Android operating system, such as its chatbot Gemini, it said. The Commission said it will tell Google how it should grant rival AI-service providers equal access to features and tools used by Google's own services. It also said it will assist Google with complying with provisions that concern how the company lets competing search engines access datasets for areas such as ranking and queries held by Google Search. "Android is open by design, and we're already licensing Search data to competitors under the DMA. However, we are concerned that further rules which are often driven by competitor grievances rather than the interest of consumers, will compromise user privacy, security and innovation," Clare Kelly, Google's senior competition counsel for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said in a statement.