Google appeals EU DMA orders to open Android to rival AI assistants and share search data with AI chatbots
On Sept 28, 2026 Google filed two appeals at the EU General Court against the European Commission's July 16 Digital Markets Act decisions. One requires rival AI assistants such as ChatGPT to get the same access as Gemini to Android features (voice activation, in-app actions, screen automation, on-device models, background execution) by August 2027. The other requires sharing anonymised search data with rival search engines and AI chatbots from January 2027. The appeals were reported on Sept 29.
Key facts
- Two appeals filed at the EU General Court on Sept 28, 2026, against DMA specification decisions of July 16, 2026
- Android interoperability: by August 2027 rival assistants must get Gemini-equivalent access to 11 Android features, including voice activation, actions across apps, contextual information, screen automation, on-device AI models and background execution
- Search data: from January 2027 Google must share anonymised search-and-click data with competing search engines and AI chatbots
- Google (Oliver Bethell, senior director for competition): 'We're appealing decisions that will force us to share people's private search history without sufficient anonymisation and weaken vital security protections on Android'
- The orders cover roughly 60% of EU smartphones (AI Weekly)
What happened
Google challenged both DMA interoperability and data-sharing decisions in court, arguing privacy and security risks. The Commission says the measures are needed for competition in AI assistants on Android.
Why it matters
They are the EU's most direct attempt to keep the default phone assistant from locking in the AI-assistant market, on roughly 60% of EU smartphones. The fight comes as Google replaces Assistant with Gemini on Android.
Unverified: no report says whether Google also asked the court for interim measures to suspend the deadlines.
Changelog
- 2026-09-29: created
Related events
- Gemini fully replaces Google Assistant on Android; Gemini gets 'Call for Me', and Gems become skills ★★★
Sources (5)
- pressBloomberg: Google fights EU attempt to prise open Android to rival AI bots
- pressTNW: Google takes EU to court over orders to share search data with AI rivals
- pressAndroid Headlines: Google takes the EU to court over Android and search data demands
- pressAI Weekly: Google sues EU to block DMA order opening Android to AI rivals
- pressTechnology.org: Google appeals EU orders on Android AI and search
id: 2026-09-28-google-appeals-eu-dma-android-ai-assistants · updated 2026-09-29 · open in the interactive timeline