Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Google Appeals EU Orders on Android and Search Data
Google runs Android and the Google Search service.
The European Union wants competing artificial-intelligence tools and search engines to have a fairer chance to compete.
It ordered Google to let rival AI services use some Android features.
It also asked Google to share certain search data with outside competitors.
Google disagrees and is appealing the orders in an EU court.
The company says people’s private search histories might not be protected enough.
Google also says the Android changes could weaken security.
The EU rules come from a law designed to limit the power of very large technology companies.
Google appealed European Union orders requiring Android access for rival artificial-intelligence services and search-data sharing.
The European Commission says rival AI services should access Android features on equal terms with Google Gemini.
The EU also ordered Google to share search data with some third-party search engines and AI chatbots.
Google argues the measures could expose private search history and weaken Android security protections.
The appeals challenge deadlines of July next year for Android changes and January 2027 for search-data sharing.
- Who
- Google, owned by Alphabet, and the European Commission under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act.
- What
- Google appealed binding EU instructions requiring changes to Android and the sharing of search data with certain competitors.
- When
- The appeals were announced Tuesday; the orders set deadlines of July next year for Android changes and January 2027 for search-data sharing.
- Where
- The appeals were filed with the General Court of the European Union.
- Why
- The European Union says the measures are needed to promote competition, while Google says they could expose private search history and weaken Android security.
European Union Position
Google Position
Competition on Android
European Union Position
The European Commission wants rival artificial-intelligence services to access Android features on an equal footing with Google Gemini.
Google Position
Google says the required Android changes would weaken vital security protections.
Search-data sharing
European Union Position
EU officials want some third-party search engines, including AI chatbots, to receive search data so they can compete more fairly with Google Search.
Google Position
Google says the requirement could force it to share users’ private search history without sufficient anonymization.
Regulatory obligations
European Union Position
The EU says the Digital Markets Act requires designated gatekeepers to support interoperability and avoid favoring their own services.
Google Position
Google is challenging the binding instructions in the General Court of the European Union rather than accepting the requirements.
- Appellant
- EU legal framework
- Digital Markets Act
- Android deadline
- July next year
- Search-data deadline
- January 2027
- Court
- General Court of the European Union
- Potential maximum DMA fine
- Up to 10% of annual global revenue, or up to 20% for repeated infringements
- Periodic penalty payments
- Up to 5% of average daily sales