EU widens 'access' rules
Brussels is expanding what counts as platform access, proposing that Google must let third-party search engines use search data and signalling broader scrutiny of data used to power chatbots. At the same time, a court ruled that X must share user data under GDPR despite trade-secret claims, reinforcing that internal complexity won't block user access rights. These moves together push platform teams to treat search signals, messaging distribution and interaction logs as possible compliance surfaces. (reuters.com, moneycontrol.com)
Brussels is pushing platform “access” rules beyond app stores and into the data behind search results and user accounts. (digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu) On April 16, the European Commission proposed measures that would require Google to let rival search engines use Google Search ranking, query, click and view data on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms. The proposal sits under Article 6(11) of the Digital Markets Act, the European Union law for large “gatekeeper” platforms. (digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu, digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu) The Commission said the goal is to help smaller search services improve their products and challenge Google Search’s market position. A related consultation published the same day says the proceeding also covers which companies qualify for access and whether artificial-intelligence chatbot providers should be eligible. (digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu, digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu) That is a wider reading of “access” than the European Union’s earlier focus on app stores, messaging interoperability and business users’ treatment on platforms. The Digital Markets Act applies to core platform services including online search engines and messenger services run by designated gatekeepers. (digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu) The same week, a court ordered X to give a user broad access to personal data under the General Data Protection Regulation, rejecting the company’s argument that trade secrets could block disclosure. Moneycontrol reported on April 16 that the ruling allowed only limited exceptions tied to protecting internal systems. (moneycontrol.com) Taken together, the two moves reach into the internal records platforms use to rank results, distribute messages and log user activity. The Google case targets anonymised search data, while the X ruling centers on a user’s right to obtain personal data held about them. (digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu, moneycontrol.com) The Google file did not start this week. On January 27, the Commission opened proceedings on Google’s search-data-sharing duty and said the work would examine the scope of data, the anonymisation method, the conditions of access and the eligibility of artificial-intelligence chatbot providers. (digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu) Reuters reported that Google said it would review the Commission’s findings and remained concerned that the changes could expose users’ private information, reveal trade secrets and enable spam and fraud. Reuters also reported that the Commission’s measures are still proposed, not final. (reuters.com) The next step is consultation and enforcement, not a single headline ruling. In Brussels, that means a fight over which datasets platforms must open, to whom, and under what safeguards. (digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu, reuters.com)
