In a landmark move on July 16, 2026, the European Commission issued binding specification measures under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) targeting Google’s AI ecosystem. The first measure mandates that competitors’ AI services must be interoperable with Google’s Android platform, ensuring fair access to features currently exclusive to Google’s AI offerings such as Gemini. The second measure compels Google to share search data—data that only Google Search can collect at scale—with third-party search engines. These steps are designed to rebalance the competitive landscape, enabling smaller players to innovate and offer alternatives to Google’s dominant services while safeguarding user privacy.
Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, emphasized the need for fairness and user choice amid digital transformation. Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, added that the measures aim to support innovation and diversity in the EU’s AI assistant and search engine markets.
This regulatory action represents one of the most significant AI policy developments in the past 24–48 hours, signaling the EU’s commitment to preventing platform monopolies and promoting a more open AI ecosystem.