Alphabet’s Google is challenging two recent European Union antitrust orders that would require the company to share its search data and AI model access with rivals. The appeals were filed on Monday in the Luxembourg‑based General Court, the EU’s second‑highest judicial body.
EU orders under the Digital Markets Act
In July, EU regulators invoked the Digital Markets Act (DMA) to compel Google to open up its Gemini AI model and its search‑engine data to competitors such as OpenAI and other search‑engine providers. The DMA is intended to curb the market power of large technology platforms and promote competition.
Google’s privacy and security concerns
Google’s senior director of competition, Oliver Bethell, said the company believes the orders would force it to share users’ private search histories without sufficient anonymisation. “People use Search for their most personal questions – from medical worries to close relationships – and mandating we share these personal queries without adequate safeguards would cause irreversible harm to user privacy,” Bethell said in a statement.
Bethell also warned that the measures could weaken vital security protections on Android devices, potentially exposing users to additional risks.
EU regulators defend the safeguards
The European Commission, which enforces the DMA, maintains that the two measures contain robust safeguards designed to protect user privacy, device integrity and overall security. The Commission argues that the rules strike a balance between opening markets and preserving essential protections for European users.
Support from privacy‑focused competitors
DuckDuckGo, a U.S.‑based internet‑privacy search engine that does not track users’ search history, welcomed the EU watchdog’s stance. A DuckDuckGo spokesperson said, “The anonymisation framework is robust and no amount of manufactured doubt changes that. The only thing an appeal buys Google is time.”
Potential impact on European users
If the General Court upholds the EU orders, Google would be required to provide rival AI developers and search‑engine companies with access to data that powers its Gemini model and its search results. Proponents of the DMA say this could foster innovation and give consumers more choices. Critics, including Google, argue that the forced data sharing could erode the privacy protections that European users have come to expect.
Next steps
The General Court’s decision could take months, and the changes are slated to take effect next year if the appeals are unsuccessful. Both sides have indicated they will continue to argue their positions vigorously, emphasizing the tension between competition policy and privacy safeguards in the digital age.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
