EU steps in to make sure Google gives rivals access to AI services and data

European regulators have launched new proceedings to ensure Google complies with the EU’s digital competition laws regarding access to its artificial intelligence services and search data, officials announced Tuesday in Brussels.

The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, is initiating “specification proceedings” under the bloc’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) to determine how Google must provide third-party AI companies with equal access to features available through its own services, particularly its Gemini AI system.

The proceedings will also examine whether Google is providing competing search engines with fair and reasonable access to Google Search data, including whether AI chatbot providers should be eligible to access this information. These measures aim to level the playing field in the rapidly evolving AI sector.

Unlike formal investigations, specification proceedings must conclude within six months with draft measures that Brussels will impose on Google. The process represents a significant step in the EU’s ongoing effort to regulate major technology platforms under the DMA, which took effect earlier this year.

“We seek to maximize the potential and the benefits of this profound technological shift by making sure the playing field is open and fair, not tilted in favor of the largest few,” said Teresa Ribera, executive vice president of the European Commission who oversees competition affairs.

The DMA requires designated “gatekeeper” companies like Google to give smaller competitors equal access to hardware and software features. The law aims to prevent large technology platforms from exploiting their market dominance to disadvantage rivals or limit consumer choice.

Google has expressed concerns about the proceedings. “Android is open by design, and we’re already licensing Search data to competitors under the DMA,” said Clare Kelly, Google’s senior competition counsel, in a statement. “However, we are concerned that further rules which are often driven by competitor grievances rather than the interest of consumers, will compromise user privacy, security, and innovation.”

This action adds to the regulatory pressure Google faces in Europe. Last year, EU regulators launched a separate antitrust investigation examining whether Google gave itself an unfair advantage through the use of online content for its AI models and services.

The proceedings reflect growing global concern about AI competition and access. As generative AI technologies like Google’s Gemini become increasingly important business tools, regulators worldwide are grappling with how to ensure fair competition in this emerging market.

The EU has positioned itself as a global leader in technology regulation, with the DMA forming part of a broader regulatory framework that includes the Digital Services Act and the AI Act. These laws collectively represent the most comprehensive attempt by any major jurisdiction to govern digital markets and artificial intelligence.

For smaller AI developers, the outcome of these proceedings could be crucial. Many have argued that access to data and integration capabilities with major platforms like Google are essential for their products to compete effectively.

Industry analysts note that how the EU resolves these issues could set precedents for other regions considering similar digital market regulations, including the United States, where federal and state regulators have also been scrutinizing large technology companies’ practices.

The proceedings come at a time of intense competition in the AI sector, with Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and others racing to develop and deploy increasingly sophisticated AI models and services. Access to data, computing resources, and platform integration have emerged as key competitive factors in this rapidly evolving industry.

The Commission’s final decision, expected within six months, will provide a clearer picture of how digital gatekeepers must share access to AI capabilities and data under European law.