EU forces Google to share search data and open Android to rival AI companies

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Category: Technology/Innovations

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Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. rein in / reɪn ɪn / (phrasal v.) – to control or limit something or someone that is becoming too powerful, too large, or difficult to manage
    Example:

    The government wants to rein in rising grocery prices to help families.


  2. juggernaut / ˈdʒʌg ərˌnɔt / (n.) – a very large, powerful, and successful person, company, or organization that is difficult to stop
    Example:

    Our small shop could not compete with the big online juggernaut, so we eventually closed down.


  3. dismantle / dɪsˈmæn tl / (v.) – to end or get rid of a system or structure
    Example:

    The company decided to dismantle the unfair rules after many people complained.


  4. infinite / ˈɪn fə nɪt / (adj.) – relating to something that has no end or limit
    Example:

    The internet gives us infinite ways to learn new things.


  5. vet / vɛt / (v.) – to carefully check or examine someone or something before deciding if they are suitable, safe, or good enough
    Example:

    Parents should vet new apps before their children use them.


Article

Read the text below.

The European Union (EU) issued two new rules for Google to force it to share search data and open up its Android operating system to rival AI companies.


In the latest attempt to rein in the tech behemoths’ deep control of the digital economy, the EU said it will support innovation and diversity in the field by enabling fair access to AI features on Android devices and search engines.


“Thanks to these measures, we hope to see emerging alternatives to Google Search and Google’s AI services, such as Gemini, and that users in the EU can enjoy greater choice of services,” Henna Virkkunen, an executive vice president at the European Commission overseeing tech, said.


The measure is the latest advancement of Brussels’ growing rules and regulations that have given the 27-nation bloc a global leadership position in checking the power of tech juggernauts or “gatekeepers” like TikTok, which are largely based in China and the U.S.


Recently, Brussels has pushed through efforts to ensure Google gives access to Gemini AI services to rival AI companies and search engines; forced Apple to add interoperability features to its devices to connect to non-Apple products; and demanded that Meta dismantle “key addictive features” like infinite scrolling.


Kent Walker, president of global affairs for both Google and its parent company Alphabet, said the new rules could backfire by removing safeguards that the company had built to protect user privacy, like the vetting of third-party AI assistants.


“Europeans’ private searches would be exposed to unfamiliar companies, without adequate anonymization of the data and without user knowledge or consent. This would weaken citizens’ privacy, risk business trade secrets, and endanger national security,” he said in a statement.


U.S. President Donald Trump has lashed out at EU tech regulation in the past.


In issuing the two new rules, the commission said it found that AI agents not made by Google were unable to function on Android phones at the same level as Google’s Gemini.


Google must now allow voice activation of these alternative AI agents and enable them to run background tasks like booking restaurants via third-party apps.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • The European Union introduced new rules to reduce Google’s control over digital services by encouraging more competition and giving users more choices. Do you think large technology companies should have more freedom to control their own services, or should governments create rules to limit their power? Why do you say so? Discuss.
  • Google warned that users’ private searches could be exposed to unfamiliar companies if more companies gain access to data. Would you trust a smaller new technology company with your personal information if it offered a better service? Why or why not? What makes a company deserve your trust when it handles your personal information (ex. it’s an established and well-known company)? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • The EU hopes its rules will help create alternatives to Google Search and Google’s AI services, such as Gemini. Why do you think competition between AI companies might be important for users? Would you rather use one excellent AI service or have many different AI choices? Why? Discuss.
  • The EU has become a global leader in creating rules for powerful technology companies, while some leaders, including Donald Trump, have criticized EU technology regulation. Should different countries have different rules for global technology companies, or should there be international rules? Why do you say so? Discuss.