What the EU is doing — and what it isn’t
European regulators are escalating pressure on Google under the Digital Markets Act by launching a formal process designed to clarify exactly what compliance must look like. The European Commission described the step as “specification proceedings,” a mechanism intended to define how a company designated as a gatekeeper should provide access to key features and data on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms.
This is not, at least initially, framed as a standard enforcement investigation with immediate penalties. Instead, it is a structured path to produce detailed requirements that Brussels can impose. The Commission says the process must wrap within six months, culminating in draft measures that would effectively set the rules of the road for how Google shares capabilities with competitors.
Why Gemini AI and Search data matter
The proceedings target two central assets in Google’s ecosystem. First are the AI features tied to Gemini, Google’s flagship generative AI offering. Regulators want to ensure that third-party AI companies can access comparable functionality rather than being blocked or disadvantaged by Google’s control of core distribution points.
Second is Google Search data. In practice, access to search-related data can be a competitive lever not just for traditional search rivals but also for AI chatbot providers, which increasingly rely on retrieval, indexing, and query signals to answer questions. The EU’s view is that if a gatekeeper can deny or degrade this access, it can shape the entire downstream market for information services and AI products.
Google’s pushback: privacy and innovation
Google argues that forced sharing can collide with user privacy and security obligations, and that opening up sensitive systems could expose data or degrade product performance. The company also warns that overly prescriptive technical rules may slow innovation in a fast-moving sector where product design changes quickly.
The EU counters that its goal is not to weaken privacy protections, but to prevent gatekeepers from using privacy arguments selectively to defend market power. Over the coming months, the key question will be whether Brussels can write rules that meaningfully open access while still minimizing data exposure, and whether those rules can keep pace with the rapid evolution of AI features.
What to watch next
Because the DMA is still relatively new in practice, the outcome could become a template for how Europe regulates competition in generative AI ecosystems. If the Commission’s measures are strict, other gatekeepers may face similar technical mandates; if they are narrow, rivals may argue the DMA is too slow to prevent lock-in. Either way, the six-month timeline means major decisions about the AI data stack are approaching quickly.