Google Appeals EU Order Over Search Data Sharing

NEW YORK: (News Desk) – Google on Tuesday appealed a European Union decision requiring the company to share certain search data with rival search engines and make changes to its Android operating system to support competing artificial intelligence services.

The European Commission issued the order in July under the bloc’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to increase competition and give users more choice by imposing obligations on major technology companies.

Google’s Senior Director for Competition Oliver Bethell said the company was challenging the decision over concerns about user privacy and Android security.

Under the EU decision, Google will be required to begin sharing search data with other search engines from January 2027. The European Commission said the measure was intended to create a more competitive market.

Changes to Android are scheduled to take effect in July 2027. EU officials said the requirements could encourage the development of alternatives to Google’s AI services, including its Gemini platform.

Google, however, argued that Android is already designed to be open and interoperable. The company said the EU requirements could force it to share users’ private search queries with other companies without adequate anonymisation, user awareness or consent.

Bethell said users rely on Google Search for highly personal queries, including questions about health and relationships, and argued that sharing such information without stronger safeguards could pose serious privacy risks.

Google filed its appeal with the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg.