The European Commission has formally opened proceedings to guide Alphabet's Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) toward full compliance with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The move, announced in a statement on Tuesday, marks a significant step in the EU’s ongoing effort to ensure "gatekeeper" platforms remain open and fair for competitors.
These specification proceedings are designed to provide a clear roadmap for the tech giant to follow, particularly regarding its Android operating system and the sharing of search-related data.
Under the DMA, the Commission has the authority to intervene and specify the exact measures a company must take to meet the law’s stringent requirements.
This latest action focuses on ensuring that third-party developers can interoperate effectively with Android and that Google’s search data—a cornerstone of its digital dominance—is made available to rivals on a fair and non-discriminatory basis.
The Commission aims to prevent the company from using its platform power to favor its own services over those of smaller competitors.
Google has responded with a mix of cooperation and caution.
Clare Kelly, Google’s Senior Competition Counsel, noted that Android is "open by design" and emphasized that the company is already licensing search data to competitors to satisfy DMA mandates.
However, she raised concerns that further regulatory tightening could be counterproductive.
Kelly warned that rules driven by "competitor grievances" rather than consumer interest risk compromising user privacy, security, and the pace of innovation within the mobile ecosystem.
The proceedings will involve a period of dialogue between the Commission and Alphabet, as regulators seek to define the technical specifications required to satisfy the "spirit and letter" of the law.