On 27 January 2026, the European Commission announced the opening of two sets of specification proceedings to assist Google in complying with its obligations under the Digital Markets Act (“DMA”), formalising its regulatory dialogue with the company on key areas of implementation.[1]
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 the Android operating system. The Commission’s focus is on features used by Google’s own artificial intelligence services, including Gemini. The proceedings aim to clarify how Google should grant third-party AI service providers access to the same functionalities available to its own services, ensuring equal opportunities to innovate and compete in the rapidly evolving AI ecosystem on mobile devices.
The second set of proceedings relates to Article 6(11) of the DMA, which requires Google to provide third-party online search engine providers with access to anonymised ranking, query, click and view data held by Google Search on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. The Commission will examine the scope of data to be shared, the anonymisation methods, conditions of access, and whether AI chatbot providers should be eligible to access the data. Effective access to a meaningful dataset, the Commission argues, would enable competitors to optimise their services and offer genuine alternatives to Google Search.
The Commission is expected to conclude both proceedings within six months. Within the next three months, it will communicate its preliminary findings to Google, outlining draft measures intended to ensure effective compliance with the DMA. Non-confidential summaries of these findings and proposed measures will be published, allowing third parties to submit comments.
The Commission stressed that the proceedings are without prejudice to its broader enforcement powers under the DMA. They do not pre-judge compliance and will not prevent the Commission from adopting a formal non-compliance decision, including the imposition of fines or periodic penalty payments.
The DMA is designed to ensure fair and contestable digital markets by regulating large platforms that act as critical gateways between businesses and consumers. In September 2023, the Commission designated Google Search, Google Play, Google Maps, YouTube, Android, Chrome, Google Shopping and Google’s online advertising services as core platform services under the regime.
The proceedings mark another step in the Commission’s efforts to translate the DMA’s broad obligations into concrete, enforceable requirements, particularly in areas such as AI and search, where market power and data access remain central to competition concerns.
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The material in this article is only for general review of the topics covered and does not constitute legal advice. No legal or business decision should be based on its content. This article is written in the English language. Preiskel & Co LLP is not responsible for any translation of all or part of its content into any language.
[1] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_202