The European Commission has taken a fresh step to tighten oversight of Google under the Digital Markets Act, opening two specification proceedings that focus on artificial intelligence interoperability and access to search data. While not a formal investigation, the move signals growing impatience in Brussels over how the US tech giant is implementing its obligations as a designated gatekeeper.
At the centre of the first proceeding is Android and the way AI services are integrated into the operating system. The Commission wants Google to clearly outline how third-party AI providers can gain the same level of access to Android features that Google’s own services, such as Gemini, currently enjoy. The aim is to prevent Google from using its control over Android to favour its in-house AI tools at the expense of rivals.
The second proceeding focuses on Google Search and the data it generates. Brussels is seeking clarity on how competing search engines can access anonymised ranking, query, click, and view data from Google Search on fair and non-discriminatory terms. Such data is considered critical for rivals looking to improve the quality and relevance of their own search services, particularly as AI-driven search experiences become more prominent.
Teresa Ribera, the EU’s Executive Vice-President for Competition, framed the action as part of a broader effort to ensure that the rapid rise of AI does not entrench the power of a small number of dominant players. She said the Commission’s goal is to maximise the benefits of this technological shift by keeping the competitive landscape open, rather than tilted in favour of the largest firms with control over key platforms.
Google has pushed back against the Commission’s approach, arguing that it already meets many of the DMA’s requirements. Clare Kelly, Google’s Senior Competition Counsel, said Android is open by design and that the company is already licensing search data to competitors as required under the new rules. She warned, however, that further obligations driven by complaints from rivals could have unintended consequences.
According to Kelly, expanding access beyond current arrangements risks undermining user privacy, security, and innovation. This argument echoes a familiar line from Google, which has repeatedly said that data sharing and deeper system-level access must be balanced against the need to protect users and maintain platform integrity.
Importantly, the Commission has stressed that these specification proceedings are not formal infringement investigations. They are intended to provide guidance on how Google should comply with the DMA, rather than to determine whether the company has already broken the law. Over the next six months, the Commission will share preliminary findings with Google and publish non-confidential summaries so that third parties can submit comments.
That said, the stakes are high. If Brussels ultimately concludes that Google’s compliance efforts fall short, it can formally declare the company in breach of the DMA. Penalties for violations can reach up to 10 percent of a company’s global annual turnover, a level that would translate into billions of dollars for a firm of Google’s size.
Google was officially designated a gatekeeper under the DMA in September 2023, covering a wide range of services including Search, Android, Chrome, YouTube, and Google Play. It has been required to comply with the full set of DMA obligations since March 2024. The current proceedings suggest that, at least in the Commission’s view, questions remain about whether Google is truly levelling the playing field as Europe’s new digital competition regime intends.
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