The European Union announced Tuesday its intervention to ensure Google provides rival AI companies and search engines with access to its Gemini AI services and data.

The move is mandated by the bloc’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), a flagship regulation aimed at curbing Big Tech dominance by requiring large digital platforms to offer smaller competitors fair access to key hardware and software functionalities.

Brussels has launched what it calls “specification proceedings” to clarify exactly how Google must comply with the DMA.

These proceedings are not a formal investigation but are designed to define enforceable technical and operational requirements.

Focus on Gemini Features and Search Data Sharing

A central element of the proceedings will outline how Google must provide third-party AI developers with “equally effective access” to the same Gemini AI features used by Google’s own services.

The European Commission will also examine whether Google is offering rival search engines fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory access to Google Search data.

Particular attention will be paid to whether AI chatbot providers qualify for access to this data—an issue with significant implications for competition in the rapidly evolving generative AI market.

The process is expected to conclude within six months, after which the Commission will impose draft measures specifying Google’s compliance obligations.

Google Pushback as Regulatory Pressure Intensifies

Google responded cautiously to the EU’s announcement. Clare Kelly, the company’s senior competition counsel, said Google was “concerned about the reasoning behind this procedure,” arguing that “Android is open by design” and that Google is already licensing Search data to competitors under the DMA.

She warned that additional requirements, “often driven by competitor grievances rather than the interest of consumers,” could undermine user privacy, security, and innovation.

European Commission Executive Vice President Teresa Ribera defended the action, saying the goal is to “maximize the potential and the benefits” of AI by ensuring competition is not skewed in favor of a handful of dominant firms.

The move adds to mounting regulatory pressure on Google, which is already facing an ongoing EU antitrust investigation into whether it unfairly leveraged online content to train and enhance its AI models and services.