EU DMA GOOGLE ORDERS — KEY FACTS (ISSUED JULY 16, 2026)
● Authority: European Commission — binding specification decisions under the Digital Markets Act
● Order 1 (Android AI): 11 Android features must be opened to rival AI assistants (Article 6(7))
● 11 features cover: Voice invocation · long-press home · Circle to Search · on-device app context · proactive suggestions · keyboard AI · autonomous app control · OS settings · system services · on-device ML models
● Android deadline: Ships with Android 18 — no later than August 1, 2027
● Order 2 (Search data): Anonymized query, click, ranking data shared with rival search engines and eligible AI companies (Article 6(11))
● Search data deadline: January 2027 — pricing finalized by then
● Fines: Up to 10% of global annual turnover for non-compliance
● Geography: EU/EEA only. US, UK, and global Android devices not affected.
● Google's response: Publicly disagreed. May appeal — but orders remain binding unless overturned.
What Changes for EU Android Users
Per the European Commission's official press release, the Android order addresses the structural advantage Gemini holds over rival AI assistants on Android devices. Currently, as the Commission notes, "competitors' AI assistants only have restricted access to key functionalities of the Google Android operating system. Without this access, alternative AI assistants are not competing on an equal footing with Google's own AI services that have full access." The 11 features cover five categories: invocation (custom wake words, long-press home, Circle to Search), context (on-device app data, proactive suggestions, keyboard AI), actions (autonomous app control, OS settings), system services, and on-device ML models.
In practice, as the accessible summary explains, EU Android users will be able to: set Claude or ChatGPT as their default assistant with full system integration; activate it via voice in the same way "Hey Google" works today; use it to perform actions inside other apps (booking, drafting, ordering) without leaving the app; and receive AI-generated suggestions based on their on-device activity. Currently, only Gemini can do all of these things. From August 2027, any AI assistant that meets the Commission's interoperability requirements can.
The Search Data Order — What It Means for AI Companies
The second order requires Google to share anonymized search data — queries, clicks, and ranking signals — with competing search engines and, notably, eligible AI chatbot providers. Per Kursol's enterprise analysis, this matters for AI companies because the search data is what Google Search uses to rank results — access to this data would allow AI assistants to improve their ability to surface and cite web content accurately. OpenAI and Anthropic have been building their own web search capabilities (ChatGPT Search, Claude's web search) largely without access to Google's query-click data. The January 2027 data sharing obligation, if implemented, changes that. Pricing will be FRAND (fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory) and Google retains the right to assess cybersecurity and data protection risks before sharing with specific parties.
Timeline and Risk
| Date | Obligation | Status |
|---|
| Jul 16, 2026 | DMA binding orders issued | Done |
| Jan 2027 | Search data sharing begins (FRAND pricing finalized) | Pending |
| Aug 1, 2027 | Android 18 ships with 11 AI interoperability features | Pending |
Google has publicly disagreed with the orders and may appeal. Per Model Diplomat's legal analysis, "unless overturned, the specification decisions remain binding." The DMA's enforcement architecture is designed to be harder to negotiate around than the EU's previous antitrust fines — Google paid the €4.1 billion Android antitrust fine and largely preserved its business model. The DMA targets structure rather than conduct. An appeal delays implementation but does not eliminate the obligation if the appeal fails.
Sources: European Commission official press release · Eastern Herald full coverage · Kursol enterprise analysis · Model Diplomat legal analysis · DMA official specification decision · Related: Google AI leadership restructuring → · Gemini 3.6 Flash review →