EU Launches Inquiry into Google's Android AI Access Amid Broader Big Tech Scrutiny
January 27, 2026
The European Commission has begun formal DMA-guided proceedings with Google to ensure equal access to Android-related AI features and fair access to anonymised Google Search data for rivals, as part of broader regulatory enforcement.
Google defends Android as open by design and says it already licenses Search data under the DMA, while warning that further rules could threaten user privacy, security, and innovation.
A core requirement is that third-party AI services receive the same Android access as Google’s Gemini, enabling equal opportunity for innovation on mobile devices.
The move sits within the EU’s wider scrutiny of Big Tech, reflecting ongoing antitrust and competition enforcement in the tech sector.
Regulators aim to curb gatekeeping power by enforcing the DMA, with the EU signaling a broader push that could have global implications for data access and interoperability.
Observers say the case underscores the EU’s broader regulatory trend toward opening platform ecosystems and shaping AI and search competition.
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Industry observers on social media highlight the six-month deadline and potential impacts on AI development, consumer choice, and innovation.
If investigations proceed, penalties could accumulate and contribute to a growing EU fines tally for Alphabet, though regulators rarely impose the maximum.
Summary based on 39 sources
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Sources

Yahoo Finance • Jan 27, 2026
Google Faces EU Push to Open Search, AI Access
Search Engine Land • Jan 27, 2026
EU puts Google’s AI and search data under DMA spotlight
The Times Of India • Jan 27, 2026
EU to Google: Give rival AI services equal access to Android or…