Google Appeals EU Orders on Data Sharing and Android Features

Google has challenged two European Union orders that require the company to share search data with rivals and open Android features to competitors. The Alphabet-owned company appealed the measures on 28 September 2026 before the General Court in Luxembourg, warning that the rules could compromise user privacy and security.

The Dispute

The legal fight centres on the EU's Digital Markets Act. In July, the European Commission ordered Google to make certain Android features accessible to rivals and provide eligible competing search providers with anonymised search data. The data-sharing rules are set to begin in January 2027, while the Android interoperability measures are due in July 2027. Google argues that search queries can reveal private information like health and relationships, and that inadequate anonymisation creates lasting risks. On 29 September, Google's senior director of competition, Oliver Bethell, stated that the measures could force the company to share private data without sufficient safeguards.

EU Response and Support

The European Commission maintains that its safeguards protect user privacy. A ruling on 16 July stated that Google must supply anonymised information on queries, ranking, clicks and views to help competitors improve their services. The EU notes it does not require account details or full search histories, and that protections include removing exact timings, filtering uncommon queries, generalising location data, and modifying interaction data. Search firm DuckDuckGo endorsed the Commission, with a spokesperson stating on 29 September that the anonymisation framework is sound and that Google's appeal will heavily impact implementation.

Context

Regulatory bodies like the European Commission often use major competition laws to prevent large technology platforms from holding a monopoly over digital markets. When big tech companies are forced to share data or open their systems, it is usually intended to help smaller startups and alternative services compete more fairly. However, these legal battles often highlight the difficult balance between promoting fair market competition and protecting user data privacy.