The European Commission has ordered Google to open Android’s microphone, camera, and screen access to rival AI assistants under two binding specification decisions adopted under the Digital Markets Act. Google must ship the changes in Android 18, with a deadline of August 1, 2027.
The decision covers 11 operating system features. Five are restricted, meaning Google can demand certification before third-party assistants can access them: mobile payments, app store overlays, system integration, visual call identification, and custom keyboards. The remaining six carry no certification requirement: ambient data (microphone, camera, screen, location), always-on hotword detection, long-press invocation, system-level on-device AI models, third-party model implementation, and background execution.
For restricted features, Google must establish a Qualified AI Assistant Program where third-party Trusted Certification Authorities certify assistants free of charge. Google cannot revoke those certifications directly, only the certifier’s authority. Suspension requires a body of evidence of severe and imminent harm, submitted to the commission.
The second decision forces Google to share anonymized search query, click, and ranking data with rival engines and AI chatbots for a cost-based fee. Android carries roughly 60% of European mobile users. The commission’s power to open non-compliance cases, including fines, remains untouched.
