EU proposes new Google search-data sharing measures under DMA
A public consultation is underway as the EU seeks to balance market competition with data protection in the digital search sector.
The European Commission has set out proposed measures that would require Google to share key search data with third-party providers under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), in a fresh step to open Europe’s online search market to greater competition. The move comes in the form of preliminary findings sent to Google, rather than a final decision, and is now subject to public consultation.
Under the proposal, Google would have to provide access to anonymised search data, including ranking, query, click, and view data, on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms. According to the Commission, the aim is to allow third-party search engines to improve their services and better challenge Google Search’s market position.
The proposed measures go beyond a general obligation to share data. They set out detailed conditions covering who should qualify for access, what data must be made available, how frequently it should be shared, how personal data should be anonymised, how pricing should be set, and how access procedures should work in practice. The consultation also explicitly includes companies offering online search services that incorporate AI chatbot functionality, showing that the case could shape competition not only in traditional search but also in AI-assisted search services.
The consultation is tied to Article 6(11) of the DMA, which requires gatekeepers operating online search engines to share certain anonymised data with other search engines under FRAND terms. The Commission says it opened proceedings against Alphabet in January 2026 to specify how Google should comply with that obligation in practice.
Brussels is now asking stakeholders to comment on whether the proposed framework would work in practice, whether the anonymised data would remain useful enough to help rivals improve their services, whether additional measures are needed, and whether the implementation timeline is realistic. The consultation opened on 16 April 2026 and will run until 1 May 2026, with the Commission expecting to adopt a final decision by 27 July 2026.
The case is significant because it shows the DMA moving from broad obligations to detailed implementation. Rather than debating only whether large platforms should share data, the Commission is now trying to define what meaningful access would look like in operational terms, including what must be handed over, on what conditions, and with what privacy safeguards. In that sense, the Google case may become an important test of how far the DMA can reshape competition in digital search markets and related AI services.
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