Why the European Commission Wants Google to Share Data with Third-Party Search Engines.
Google is the leading search engine in the EU with up to 90% market share.
Bing is the only closest competitor with up to 6% share in the European market. The European Commission challenges Google’s dominance in the search engine market. They proposed that Google must share data with AI chatbots and rival search engines.
The European Commission published a report proposing measures that Google should adopt to share the search data with rival search engines.
The report also includes sharing data with qualified AI chatbots.
The EU Commission proposed that Google must share data in four categories: ranking, views, clicks, and queries.
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The commission further reported that it allows third-party search engines to optimize their services and challenge Google’s position.
The final decision is due on July 27, 2026.
The European Commission Proposal:
The European Commission proposed the following measures:
- Eligibility criteria for data beneficiaries
- Search the extent of the data required to share
- Intervals and methods for sharing data
- Anonymization standards
- Guidelines to determine FRAND pricing
- How beneficiaries can access the data
Data shared by Google will be available to the eligible third parties. The European Commission has not provided the list of eligible parties. But it includes rival search engines and AI chatbots.
Rival Search Engines are Eligible:
While the European Commission has not disclosed the rival search engines. It is expected that the proposal is to share data with other search engines like Bing, DuckDuckGo, Brave, and Yandex.
AI Chatbots Are Eligible:
The European Commission reported that AI chatbots are also eligible to access data shared by Google. It will make AI search visibility easier and accessible.
AI chatbots that meet the DMA’s definition of online search engines will get access to Google’s anonymized search data.
AI search engines can use similar methods, pricing, and frequency to optimize AI search.
Google’s Response:
Google is opposing the proposal. Senior Competition Counsel at Google, Clare Kelly, said that millions of Europeans trust Google for sensitive searches. They search Google for finance, family, and health-related questions. Sharing this data with unsecured search engines and AI bots will put the user's privacy at risk.
Google also explained that the European Commission’s proposal appears to be driven by OpenAI. Google claimed that OpenAI is trying to use the DMA to harvest data from Google.
Google is already facing multiple challenges in the European Union.
Significance of European Commission Proposal:
The proposed measures are preliminary. Even if they are adopted, they will impact the searches within EEA.
Anonymization and pricing details remain open. It is yet to be seen if AI chatbots' eligibility will remain a part of the final decision.
If the EU proposal is adopted, then AI chatbots will use Google signals to rank products and search for EU users.
Conclusion:
The public response will close on May 1, 2026. The European Commission will make a final decision by July 27, 2026.
The proceedings will not follow the non-compliance results, but DMA will impose 10% of fine on global turnover.
If the final decision keeps AI chatbots' access to Google data, then it will reshape the AI search in the European market.
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