The regulatory battle between Google and the European Union has entered a new phase with the focus on artificial intelligence and access to search data. The European Commission is studying measures that would allow rival search engines and AI tools to access part of the information generated by Google's search engine within the framework of the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Brussels' approach focuses on facilitating greater competition within the European digital market. Among the affected data are search queries, clicks, rankings, and other information linked to the search engine's operation. The measure is still in the discussion phase and does not, for now, represent a definitive obligation for the company.
The European Commission's move comes in a context marked by the expansion of generative artificial intelligence and the weight that search data has for training and developing new technological systems. The issue has become one of the central points of the regulatory debate on digital competition in Europe.
From Google they have responded publicly questioning part of these proposals. The company maintains that sharing certain data could generate risks related to user privacy, even in scenarios where the information was anonymized.
The role of AI in the conflict
The advance of artificial intelligence has reinforced the strategic value of the data accumulated by large technology platforms. In this scenario, the European Union considers that access to certain information can influence the ability of other companies in the technology and AI sector to compete.
The discussion is not limited solely to traditional search engines. The debate also affects the development of artificial intelligence tools that use large volumes of data to train models and improve their capabilities.
The European Commission defends that the Digital Markets Act seeks to limit situations of dominance on platforms considered strategic within the European digital market.
Google warns about privacy and security
In response to these proposals, representatives from Google have warned of possible risks related to privacy and data security.
According to information published by Reuters, Sergei Vassilvitskii, the company's principal scientist, has told European regulators that third-party access to certain search data could affect user information protection even if anonymization systems are applied. Reuters reported these statements within the framework of meetings and contacts between the company and European officials.
The company thus maintains a position contrary to the broad opening of data linked to its search engine and raises the need to establish additional limits and guarantees.
Regulatory pressure also in the United States
The regulatory conflict is not limited to Europe. In the United States, the legal battle related to Google's dominant position in the search market also continues.
US authorities maintain the debate open on possible measures aimed at limiting practices considered monopolistic. Among the options discussed are restrictions on exclusive agreements and measures related to products and services linked to the company's digital ecosystem.
The situation places Google under simultaneous pressure in two of its main regulatory markets, in a context where artificial intelligence and data control have become central elements of the international technological debate.