The European Commission has opened two formal specification proceedings aimed at helping Google meet its obligations under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), marking the latest regulatory step in the EU’s oversight of major digital platforms.
Announced on 27 January 2026, the proceedings are intended to clarify how Google should comply with specific requirements related to interoperability and data sharing. According to the Commission, the move formalises its ongoing regulatory dialogue with Google and focuses on two obligations set out in the DMA.
The first set of proceedings relates to Article 6(7) of the DMA, which requires Google to provide third-party developers with free and effective interoperability with hardware and software features controlled by the Android operating system. The Commission said the current process will concentrate on features used by Google’s own Artificial Intelligence services, including Gemini.
As part of this, the Commission plans to define how Google should provide third-party AI service providers with access to the same Android features available to its own services. The objective is to ensure that competing AI providers can operate on equal technical terms, supporting innovation and competition in the growing market for AI services on smart mobile devices.
The second set of proceedings concerns Article 6(11) of the DMA, which requires Google to give third-party online search engine providers access to anonymised data generated by Google Search. This includes ranking, query, click and view data, which must be shared on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms.
In this case, the Commission will examine the scope of the data to be shared, the anonymisation methods applied, the conditions governing access, and whether AI chatbot providers should be eligible to use the data. The Commission stated that effective access to a meaningful dataset would enable alternative search providers to improve their services and give users viable choices beyond Google Search.
The Commission expects to conclude both proceedings within six months. Within the next three months, it will present Google with its preliminary findings, outlining the draft measures it intends to impose to ensure effective compliance with the DMA. Non-confidential summaries of these findings and proposed measures will be published, allowing third parties to submit feedback.
The Commission stressed that the proceedings do not prejudge whether Google is compliant with the DMA. It also noted that it retains the power to issue formal non-compliance decisions, including the imposition of fines or periodic penalty payments where necessary.
