EU Orders Google to Share Anonymized Search Data with Rival Engines
The European Union's Digital Markets Act has ordered Google to share anonymized search data with rival search engines under strict guidelines. By January 2027, competitors of artificial intelligence (AI) services will have equal access to features on Google's Android devices. This includes the ability for AI chatbots with search features to compete with Google's Gemini service.
The EU Commission emphasizes that 'data sharing is crucial for the development and optimization of third-party search engines.' The ruling outlines ways to anonymize data in collaboration with privacy experts, adhering to the Joint Guidelines of the DMA and GDPR. Google will evaluate whether sharing data poses cybersecurity and data protection risks before proceeding.
The measures also include a 'fair' formula for calculating the price of shared data. The goal is to allow companies to offer European users more AI service options on Android and Search services. Additionally, the ruling requires that users can activate their preferred AI assistant via voice commands by July 2027.