Google says EU rules could put your search privacy at risk as it appeals order

On Tuesday, Google announced it had appealed an EU decision that requires it to share data with other search engines and open up its Android system to rival AI services. The request comes amid privacy concerns raised by the tech giant. Brussels had imposed the order in July under the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), aiming to promote competition and provide users with more choices.

According to Oliver Bethell, Google's senior director for competition, the appeal is due to the potential sharing of users' private search histories without sufficient anonymization and the weakening of crucial security protections on Android.

In July, the European Commission had stated that Google must begin sharing search data from January 2027 to level the playing field. Android modifications were set to take effect in July of the following year. Brussels expressed hope that these changes would pave the way for the emergence of alternatives to Google's AI services, including Gemini.

However, Google argued that its Android system is already open and interoperable, and the EU's decision compels it to share private search data with other companies without proper anonymization, user awareness, or consent. Bethell emphasized that people rely on Google Search for their most personal inquiries, ranging from medical concerns to intimate relationships, and mandating the sharing of these sensitive queries without adequate safeguards could inflict irreparable harm to user privacy. The appeal was lodged with the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg.