Google is intensifying its opposition to European Union plans that could require the company to share key search engine data with rivals, arguing that the proposal creates serious privacy risks for users.
The warning was delivered by Sergei Vassilvitskii, a distinguished scientist at Google, ahead of meetings with EU antitrust officials as regulators finalize measures under the Digital Markets Act aimed at opening Google’s search ecosystem to competing services. The European Commission has proposed obliging Google to provide rival search engines with access to ranking, query, click, and view data on fair and non-discriminatory terms.(Reuters)
According to Google, the Commission’s current approach to anonymizing that data is insufficient to safeguard user privacy. Vassilvitskii said Google’s internal AI security team was able to re-identify anonymized users in testing within a matter of hours, raising concerns that sophisticated AI systems could reverse-engineer personal data despite regulatory safeguards.
The comments mark one of Google’s strongest public objections yet to the Commission’s efforts to expand access to search data. The company argues that while it supports competition, mandatory data sharing must be designed with stricter technical protections to prevent misuse and preserve consumer trust.
Google plans to present alternative proposals to regulators, urging the Commission to adopt broader safeguards before imposing final obligations. The company says it is willing to cooperate with Brussels on a framework that balances competition goals with privacy protections.
The dispute is part of the EU’s wider campaign to curb the market power of major technology companies through the Digital Markets Act, which imposes obligations on designated “gatekeepers” to make their platforms more open and contestable. Supporters of the Commission’s approach argue that access to Google’s search data is essential if smaller competitors and AI-driven challengers are to compete effectively in online search.
The European Commission is expected to finalize the measures by July 27 following consultation with stakeholders. If Google fails to comply with the eventual requirements, it could face formal enforcement action under the Digital Markets Act and fines of up to 10 percent of its global annual turnover.
