The European Commission is increasingly using the Digital Markets Act to regulate gatekeeper platforms like Google and Apple, focusing on interoperability and anti-steering rules. This regulatory shift targets how dominant platforms use their rulemaking power to influence market access and competitive neutrality across digital ecosystems.
This enforcement marks a transition from traditional antitrust litigation toward ex ante regulation of digital gatekeepers. By mandating technical interoperability at the OS level, the EU is effectively stripping Google of its ability to use Android architecture as a competitive barrier for its own AI and search products. For the broader streaming and app ecosystem, this sets a precedent that platform governance—including API access and ranking algorithms—is now subject to regulatory oversight rather than private discretion. Industry observers should watch for similar interoperability mandates targeting Apple's iOS and cloud infrastructure providers as the Commission expands its definition of essential digital gateways.
The Commission's focus on AI assistants on Android aligns with broader efforts to ensure that gatekeepers do not leverage their control over mobile operating systems to stifle emerging generative AI competitors. This regulatory pressure is further evidenced by recent EU Digital Markets Act enforcement actions against major tech platforms, as well as ongoing Google Android AI appeal challenges regarding data sharing.
The European Commission has mandated that Google provide third-party AI services with technical parity on Android under the Digital Markets Act. This regulatory action addresses self-preferencing and anti-steering concerns. It matters because it shifts platform governance from private discretion to regulatory oversight, preventing Google from using Android architecture as a competitive barrier.
Under Article 6(7) of the Digital Markets Act, Google must provide third-party AI services with technical parity on the Android operating system.
Regulators identified a conflict where Google sets ecosystem rules while competing with developers, citing anti-steering restrictions and discriminatory ranking as violations of Article 102 TFEU.
The Commission has introduced new enforcement measures, including data-access mandates for Google search data as outlined in Article 6(11) of the DMA.
This decision marks a transition toward ex ante regulation of digital gatekeepers, setting a precedent that platform governance, API access, and ranking algorithms are now subject to regulatory oversight.
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