EU orders Google to share search data with rivals, broaden Android feature access
The European Union today directed Google LLC to change some of its business practices in the search and mobile markets.
Officials outlined the required changes in two documents known as binding specification measures. The European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, issued the orders under a piece of legislation called the DMA. It’s designed to prevent tech giants from engaging in anticompetitive practices.
Google tracks how consumers interact with its search engine and uses the data to refine results pages. For example, it might boost the ranking of a manufacturer’s website if users frequently click on it when performing product research. The data that Google collects about consumer search habits is the first focus of the EU’s regulatory action.
Officials have ordered the Alphabet Inc. unit to share its search data with rivals. According to the EU, the goal is to make it easier for other companies to compete in the search engine market. Officials envision Google competitors using the data to enhance the quality of their query results.
