Google challenges EU orders on search data sharing and Android access

19:45

By: Azzat Manal

Google challenges EU orders on search data sharing and Android access

Google has challenged two European Union measures requiring the technology company to make parts of its search data available to competing search providers and to improve interoperability between Android and rival artificial intelligence services. The legal action adds another chapter to the ongoing regulatory dispute between the company and Brussels over competition in the digital market.

The company filed its appeals with the General Court of the European Union in Luxembourg, arguing that the measures could create significant privacy and security risks for users. Google has particularly questioned the requirements surrounding search data, saying that sensitive information could be exposed if adequate safeguards are not maintained.

The European Commission adopted the binding measures in July under the Digital Markets Act, the EU legislation designed to make digital markets more open and competitive. One part of the decision concerns Google Search data, while another focuses on allowing competing AI services to access key Android functionalities on terms comparable to Google's own services.

Under the search-data measure, eligible rival search engines will be able to obtain certain Google Search information, including ranking, query, click and view data. The European Commission says the objective is to give competitors access to information that Google has accumulated at a scale that other search providers cannot easily match, allowing them to improve their own services.

The EU measures do not require Google to disclose its search algorithms or underlying technology. Instead, the data covered by the rules must undergo significant modification to meet specified anonymisation requirements before it can be shared. The Commission has also established eligibility conditions for companies seeking access to the information.

Google disputes whether those protections are sufficient. The company has argued that sharing search queries and related information without adequate anonymisation, user awareness or consent could compromise privacy, particularly because search histories can reveal highly personal interests and activities. Reuters reported that Google also warned that the Android requirements could weaken certain security protections.

The Commission, however, says its framework includes several layers of protection. Google can assess whether sharing data with a particular recipient creates serious cybersecurity or data-protection risks, while eligible recipients must satisfy conditions related to data handling and international transfers under European data-protection rules.

The second measure concerns Android and artificial intelligence. Brussels wants competing AI assistants to have access to key Android capabilities that are available to Google's own AI services, including Gemini. The objective is to prevent Google's control over the operating system from giving its AI products an advantage over competing services.

The European Commission argues that greater interoperability could give European consumers more choice among search engines and AI assistants. It has also said that the measures are intended to encourage innovation and create opportunities for smaller and emerging technology companies.

The dispute comes as the EU continues to intensify enforcement of the Digital Markets Act against major technology platforms. Google has already faced other regulatory action under the legislation, including a €890 million fine announced in July over alleged breaches involving self-preferencing in Search and restrictions affecting alternative purchasing channels on Google Play.

The search-data obligations are scheduled to reach an important implementation stage in January 2027, while users are expected to begin benefiting from the Android interoperability changes from July 2027. Google's court challenge could therefore become an important part of the legal process surrounding how the measures are ultimately implemented.

The case highlights a broader tension at the heart of digital regulation: how to increase competition and give consumers more technological choices while protecting sensitive data and maintaining cybersecurity. The outcome of Google's appeal could have implications not only for the company but also for how large digital platforms are required to share data and open their ecosystems to competitors in Europe.