Google ordered to open Android and Search to rivals in Europe
The European Union has ordered Google to open its Android platform and search engine to competitors to comply with the Digital Markets Act. This ruling requires Google to allow rival AI assistants and search engines greater access to its hardware and data.
Why it matters
This is a significant regulatory action that could fundamentally alter Google's business model and the competitive landscape for AI and search in Europe.
Google must give rival AI assistants and search engines greater access to key parts of Android and Google Search after the European Union ordered the company to comply with the bloc’s digital antitrust rules.
The two decisions, handed down Thursday, could weaken Google’s control over two of the tech industry’s most important platforms and have far-reaching consequences for the company, shape the future of its AI tool Gemini, and open up new opportunities for rivals to gain ground.
The rulings stem from technical regulatory proceedings under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which requires dominant platforms — designated “gatekeepers” — to give competitors comparable access to systems and data as they themselves enjoy. Unlike a financial penalty, the procedures require Google to change how it operates in order to bring its services in line with the DMA and are developed through extensive engagement between the company and regulators.
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