It’s official: EU will force Google to share search data and open up AI on Android

官方消息：欧盟将强制谷歌共享搜索数据并开放安卓系统的 AI 权限

Europe wasted no time using its landmark Digital Markets Act (DMA) to try and rein in Big Tech. Companies like Apple, Meta, and Google have faced steep fines and orders to modify their business practices since the law came into force in 2024. And the hits keep on coming for Big Tech in Europe. 欧洲在利用其里程碑式的《数字市场法案》（DMA）来约束大型科技公司方面毫不拖延。自该法案于 2024 年生效以来，苹果、Meta 和谷歌等公司已面临巨额罚款，并被要求修改其商业行为。对于欧洲的大型科技公司来说，打击接踵而至。

After several months of consideration, the European Commission has announced new DMA measures that will force Google to support interoperability and competition in the European Union, and Google is not happy about it. The new “specification measures” cover two elements of Google’s business: Android phones and search. Both changes could theoretically increase competition and give users more choices, but Google claims they will undermine privacy and security. But as a “gatekeeper” under the DMA, Google has no choice but to comply. As the European Commission points out in its announcement, these decisions are legally binding. 经过数月的审议，欧盟委员会宣布了新的 DMA 措施，将强制谷歌在欧盟范围内支持互操作性和竞争，而谷歌对此并不买账。这些新的“具体化措施”涵盖了谷歌业务的两个方面：安卓手机和搜索。从理论上讲，这两项变革可以增加竞争并为用户提供更多选择，但谷歌声称这些措施将损害隐私和安全。然而，作为 DMA 定义下的“看门人”，谷歌别无选择，只能遵守。正如欧盟委员会在公告中所指出的，这些决定具有法律约束力。

On Android, Google will have to open up access to competing AI platforms. Currently, Google’s Gemini gets preferential access to the system. Gemini is preloaded on all Google-certified Android phones and can wake up in response to the “Hey Google” hot word. Google’s AI also includes system and app automation features, screen content access, and more. “Third-party AI assistants are therefore limited in how they can offer their innovative services, making them less attractive to 60% of EU users who have an Android device,” the Commission said in its press release. 在安卓系统上，谷歌必须开放对竞争对手 AI 平台的访问权限。目前，谷歌的 Gemini 在系统中享有优先访问权。Gemini 预装在所有经谷歌认证的安卓手机上，并可通过“Hey Google”热词唤醒。谷歌的 AI 还包括系统和应用自动化功能、屏幕内容访问等。欧盟委员会在新闻稿中表示：“因此，第三方 AI 助手在提供创新服务方面受到限制，这使得它们对 60% 使用安卓设备的欧盟用户来说吸引力下降。”

Whether mobile AI is truly innovative is up for debate, but according to EU regulators, users should be able to install an AI system of their choice without losing features. The Commission says these measures have been designed to preserve user privacy and device integrity. However, generative AI feeds on data, and deploying any such assistant on your phone means inviting your chosen model to pig out. Google is at least the devil you know. 移动端 AI 是否真的具有创新性尚存争议，但根据欧盟监管机构的说法，用户应该能够在不损失功能的情况下安装自己选择的 AI 系统。委员会表示，这些措施旨在保护用户隐私和设备完整性。然而，生成式 AI 依赖数据，在手机上部署任何此类助手都意味着邀请你选择的模型“大快朵颐”。至少，谷歌是你所熟悉的“恶魔”。

The EU’s mandates for Google Search could have more wide-ranging implications. Google will be forced to share search data with competing search providers, giving them a better chance of gaining market share and loosening Google’s iron grip on web search. The Commission alleges this action was necessary because Google’s past sharing offers have not gone far enough. Under the new rules, Google will have to provide data to other search firms transparently and for a reasonable fee. Google will also have to treat AI chatbots as search services for the purposes of data sharing. The goal is for other companies to get access to search metrics similar to what Google itself sees, which EU regulators claim is essential for a smaller player to challenge Google’s dominance. 欧盟对谷歌搜索的强制要求可能会产生更广泛的影响。谷歌将被迫与竞争对手共享搜索数据，这使它们更有机会获得市场份额，并削弱谷歌对网络搜索的铁腕控制。委员会声称此举是必要的，因为谷歌过去提供的共享方案力度不够。根据新规，谷歌必须以透明且合理的费用向其他搜索公司提供数据。在数据共享方面，谷歌还必须将 AI 聊天机器人视为搜索服务。其目标是让其他公司能够获得与谷歌自身所见类似的搜索指标，欧盟监管机构称，这对较小的参与者挑战谷歌的统治地位至关重要。

Google calls for “balance” 谷歌呼吁“平衡”

Google was vocally opposed to the EU’s new rules before they were finalized, and the company is not mincing words now that they’re final. Kent Walker, Google’s president of global affairs, claims Google offered more measured solutions that it believed could satisfy the DMA’s goals, but the path chosen by the European Commission goes too far and will harm users. “Today’s decisions risk undermining vital privacy and security guardrails for millions of Europeans,” said Walker. 在欧盟新规最终确定之前，谷歌就曾公开表示反对，如今规则尘埃落定，该公司也毫不避讳。谷歌全球事务总裁肯特·沃克（Kent Walker）声称，谷歌曾提供过更审慎的解决方案，认为这些方案足以满足 DMA 的目标，但欧盟委员会选择的道路走得太远，将会损害用户利益。沃克表示：“今天的决定可能会破坏数百万欧洲人至关重要的隐私和安全保障。”

Walker objects to the Commission’s position that AI assistants need greater access to Android. He claims that AI tools are widely supported, with phone makers playing a key role in vetting them. Granting non-Gemini AI platforms deeper integration with Android could circumvent safeguards, he said. Similarly, Google contends that sharing search data as the EU now demands will risk user privacy. The DMA action calls on Google to anonymize data using a multilayered approach, and the Commission is open to amending its decision to ensure identifiable data is appropriately handled. Google acknowledges that regulators are open to adjusting the rules, but Walker still characterizes this ruling as a threat to privacy, business trade secrets, and even national security. 沃克反对委员会关于 AI 助手需要更多安卓访问权限的立场。他声称 AI 工具已得到广泛支持，手机制造商在审查这些工具方面发挥着关键作用。他说，授予非 Gemini AI 平台与安卓系统更深层次的集成可能会绕过安全保障。同样，谷歌认为，按照欧盟现在的要求共享搜索数据将危及用户隐私。DMA 的行动要求谷歌使用多层方法对数据进行匿名化处理，委员会也愿意修改其决定，以确保可识别数据得到妥善处理。谷歌承认监管机构愿意调整规则，但沃克仍将此裁决定性为对隐私、商业机密甚至国家安全的威胁。

Google will have some time to hash out the specifics with EU regulators. The company must be ready to start sharing search data with other companies in January 2027. The Android platform must be updated for deeper integration with AI apps by July 2027. 谷歌还有一些时间与欧盟监管机构敲定细节。该公司必须在 2027 年 1 月前准备好开始与其他公司共享搜索数据。安卓平台必须在 2027 年 7 月前完成更新，以实现与 AI 应用的深度集成。