EU pushes Google to share search data with rivals under new rules

The European Commission has proposed new measures requiring Google to share its search data with rival platforms, including artificial intelligence-powered search services, in a bid to strengthen competition under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

According to the Commission, the proposal outlines how and when Google must provide access to its data, alongside safeguards to anonymise personal information and rules governing how third parties—referred to as “data beneficiaries”—can use it.

The move is intended to help smaller search engines improve their services and better compete with Google’s dominant position in the market.

Google, however, has pushed back strongly against the plan. Clare Kelly, the company’s senior competition counsel, warned that forcing such data-sharing could put user privacy at risk.

She said millions of Europeans rely on Google for sensitive searches related to health, finances, and personal matters, arguing that the proposed protections are insufficient.

The Commission has opened the proposal to public consultation until May 1, with a final decision expected in July.

The development follows ongoing regulatory scrutiny of Google in Europe. The company was charged in March 2025 with breaching DMA rules and has faced multiple antitrust penalties over the years, accumulating billions of euros in fines.

Under the DMA, violations can lead to penalties of up to 10% of a company’s global annual revenue.

The latest proposal underscores the EU’s continued efforts to curb Big Tech dominance while balancing innovation and privacy concerns.