EU orders Google to unlock search data for rivals to "level the AI playing field"

The European Commission has sent preliminary findings to Google outlining aggressive new measures that would force the tech giant to share its core search data with third-party rivals, including AI chatbots from competitors like OpenAI and Anthropic. The proposal, announced on April 16, 2026, is part of an ongoing crackdown under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

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EU regulators argue that Google’s near-monopoly on search data, specifically rankings, queries, clicks, and views, creates an insurmountable barrier for new entrants, particularly those developing AI-driven discovery tools.

Breaking the data moat

The Commission’s "specifications" for compliance require Google to provide access to its search data on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. Beneficiaries would receive access to real-time search trends, query volume, and "click-stream" data used to train ranking algorithms.

Crucially, the EU explicitly included "AI chatbots with search functionalities" as eligible data beneficiaries, potentially giving rivals the fuel needed to challenge Google’s own Gemini and Search Generative Experience.

To address privacy concerns, the measures include strict requirements for anonymizing personal data before it is handed over to third parties.

Google vows to fight "overreach"

Google has responded with sharp criticism, framing the proposal as a direct threat to user security. Clare Kelly, Google’s Senior Competition Counsel, stated that the company would "vigorously defend" against the measures.

"Hundreds of millions of Europeans trust Google with their most sensitive searches, including private questions about their health, family, and finances," Kelly said. "The Commission’s proposal would force us to hand this data over to third parties with dangerously ineffective privacy protections."

Google also argues it has already launched a DMA-compliant, anonymized dataset for rivals, claiming the EU's new demands "far exceed the original mandate" of the law.

Timeline and consequences

The European Commission has opened a public consultation on these measures, with interested parties given until May 1, 2026, to submit feedback. A final, binding decision is expected by July 27. If Google fails to comply with the final ruling, it faces astronomical penalties.

Under the DMA, the Commission can levy fines of up to 10% of a company’s global annual revenue which, for Alphabet, could exceed $30 billion.

The news follow a legacy of antitrust battles in the region, with Google already racking up over €9.7 billion ($11.4 billion) in EU fines since 2017.