The European Commission on Thursday set out preliminary conclusions concerning Google’s compliance measures under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), proposing that the company make certain search data available to competing search providers. The scope of the proposed access explicitly includes information tied to artificial intelligence chatbots that incorporate search functionalities.
The commission has opened a consultation window for interested parties to respond to the draft remedies. Comments are due by May 1, after which the commission plans to issue a final, binding decision on July 27. If adopted in its final form, the remedies will be mandatory for Google.
These measures follow formal charges brought against Google in March 2025 alleging violations of the DMA. In response to regulatory concerns and objections from rivals, Google submitted a set of proposed commitments intended to address the commission’s issues. Market competitors evaluated those proposals and found them inadequate.
The core aim of the commission’s proposed requirements is to enable third-party online search engines to improve and refine their search offerings by gaining access to Google’s search data. The proposal frames this access as a mechanism for competing services to optimize their search functionality and to more effectively challenge Google Search’s dominant position.
Stakeholders now have a defined timeline to present their views before the commission reaches its final determination. The July 27 decision will carry binding force, imposing any adopted remedies on Google.
Context and process
The preliminary findings represent a formal step in the commission’s enforcement of the DMA. By specifying the type of data proposed for sharing, including AI chatbot search outputs, the commission has narrowed the remedies under consideration. The consultation period and the scheduling of a final ruling establish a clear regulatory timetable for both Google and the affected third-party search providers.
What remains open
The commission’s notice invites commentary but does not yet constitute a final determination. The degree to which submitted views will alter the final remedies will be resolved before the July 27 deadline.