EU demands opening Android access and Search data to rivals, Google warns of privacy risks
9to5 Google 2026-07-16 14:10:00
Context: The European Union has ordered Google to share its Search data and open up Android access to rival companies, including AI assistants, by January 2027 and July 2027 respectively. This decision has sparked concerns from Google about potential privacy risks for European users. The EU's move aims to promote competition and limit Google's dominance in the search and Android markets.
Key Facts
- The EU has required Google, as a "gatekeeper," to share Search data with not only other search companies/services but also AI chatbots, including those from OpenAI and Microsoft, by January 2027.
- Google's Gemini AI assistant has more access to Android than third-party offerings, including the ability to interact with other apps, control hardware on the phone, and run its "Hey Google" background listening all the time.
- The EU's decision on Android access requires Google to provide the same level of access to other AI assistants, such as ChatGPT and Claude, as Gemini currently gets by July 2027.
- Google argues that the EU's decisions "risk undermining vital privacy and security guardrails for millions of Europeans" and could expose users' private searches to unfamiliar companies without adequate anonymization of the data and user consent.
- The EU's cybersecurity agency has warned that "security fundamentals matter more than ever in the age of AI," contradicting the EU's decision to grant external apps sensitive and powerful device permissions without safeguards.