Commission provides guidance to Google for AI interoperability on Android and sharing of Google Search data under the Digital Markets Act

Today, the European Commission has started two sets of specification proceedings to assist Google in complying with its obligations under the Digital Markets Act (‘DMA'). The specification proceedings formalise the Commission's regulatory dialogue with Google on certain areas of its compliance with two DMA obligations. The first set of proceedings concerns Google's obligation under Article 6(7) of the DMA to provide third-party developers with free and effective interoperability with hardware and software features controlled by Google's Android operating system. Today's proceedings focus on features used by Google's own Artificial Intelligence (‘AI') services, such as Gemini. The Commission intends to specify how Google should grant third-party AI service providers equally effective access to the same features as those available to Google's own services. The aim is to ensure that third-party providers have an equal opportunity to innovate and compete in the rapidly evolving AI landscape on smart mobile devices. The second set of proceedings concerns Google's obligation under Article 6(11) of the DMA to grant third-party providers of online search engines access to anonymised ranking, query, click and view data held by Google Search on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (‘FRAND') terms. These proceedings focus on the scope of data, the anonymisation method, the conditions of access, and the eligibility of AI chatbot providers to access the data. Effective compliance and access to a useful dataset will allow third-party providers of online search engines to optimise their services and offer users genuine alternatives to Google Search. Next steps The Commission will conclude the proceedings within six months of their opening. Within the upcoming three months the Commission will communicate its preliminary findings to Google setting out the draft measures it intends to impose on Google to effectively comply with the DMA. Non-confidential summaries of preliminary findings and the envisaged measures will be published to enable third parties to provide comments. These proceedings, which by their nature do not take a position on compliance with the DMA, are without prejudice to the powers of the Commission to adopt a decision finding non-compliance with any of the obligations laid down in the DMA by a gatekeeper, including the possibility to impose fines or periodic penalty payments. Background The DMA aims to ensure contestable and fair markets in the digital sector. It regulates gatekeepers, which are large digital platforms that provide an important gateway between business users and consumers, whose position can grant them the power to create a bottleneck in the digital economy. On 6 September 2023, the European Commission designated Google Inc.'s Google Search, Google Play, Google Maps, YouTube, Google Android operating system, Google Chrome, Google Shopping and its online advertising services as core platform services. Google has had to fully comply with all applicable DMA obligations in respect of the designated services since 7 March 2024. The Commission has published an annual report on the implementation of the DMA and the progress made towards achieving its objectives.This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission has issued two sets of binding specification measures to Google under the Digital Markets Act. The aim of the first specification measures is to ensure that competitors’ Artificial Intelligence (AI) services can compete with Google’s own AI services, such as […]

Resilient Mothers, Fragile Systems: Addressing Postpartum Mental Health in Bangladesh and Beyond

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Mr. Sharif Mohammad Sadat, a medical student from Bangladesh. He is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor […]

Gaza: Guterres hails hostage release, renews ceasefire call

This article is published in association with United Nations. UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the release of a hostage held in in Gaza on Monday and renewed his call for a permanent ceasefire and greater humanitarian access to the war-torn enclave.  Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old American-Israeli national and soldier with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), had […]

Human rights breaches in Crimea, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan

This article is published in association with United Nations.This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted three resolutions related to the respect for human rights in Crimea, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan. Deteriorating human rights situation in occupied Crimea on the 11th year of the occupation by RussiaThe European Parliament condemns the illegal occupation of Crimea […]

Poverty, conflict and climate fuel spike in trafficking victims: UN report

This article is published in association with United Nations. The number of victims of human trafficking detected globally is rising again after falling off during the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said in its latest report on the issue, covering 156 countries.  The 2024 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons reveals […]

Parliament to review the safety of women online

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. From 9 to 15 December, EP committees and delegations will discuss how to enhance women’s empowerment in the digital world as part of the fifth European Gender Equality Week. The fifth European Gender Equality Week will include several debates and events under the common […]

Globally young people are investing more than ever, but do they have the best tools to do so?

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Hallie Spear, Specialist, Capital Markets and Resilience Initiatives, World Economic Forum The financial landscape is more complex than ever before. In the past forty years, individuals have increasingly felt compelled to financially prepare themselves for different life stages. […]

How boosting women’s financial literacy could help you live a long, fulfilling life 

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Morgan Camp, Coordinator, Financial and Monetary Systems, World Economic Forum In 2100, I will be 100 – and likely still alive. If I retire at 62, the average retirement age for women in the United States, where I live, I will have […]

Crossroads of Peace: Armenia’s call for global cooperation in an evolving world

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Vahagn Khachaturyan, President of Armenia, Office of the President of Armenia As President of Armenia, I am serving a nation that has weathered historical storms, emerged resilient: adapted to reality and learned to survive. In the context of today’s […]

High and rising hay fever in Japan may now have a solution

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Naoko Tochibayashi, Public Engagement Lead, World Economic Forum, Japan, Naoko Kutty, Writer, Forum Agenda Spring in Japan is long-awaited on many levels as the Sakura or cherry blossoms are in full bloom, eliciting one of the country’s most iconic […]
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