The European Union has launched a formal procedure through the European Commission to require Google, owned by Alphabet Inc., to share detailed search data. This action is part of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a law designed to make digital markets more competitive.
The case began on April 16, 2026. Its purpose is to define how Google must share its data with other companies. A final decision is expected before July 27.
The data involved includes search queries, rankings, clicks, and views. This type of information is essential for how search engines function. It also plays a major role in shaping the broader digital ecosystem.
The European Commission is focusing on five key elements. These include who can access the data, how much will be shared, how it will be anonymised, the economic terms, and the technical systems used for distribution.
The official aim is to boost competition. By giving other companies access to this data, the EU hopes to reduce Google’s dominance and allow new players to grow. At the same time, this approach places data sharing under regulatory supervision, increasing oversight of how digital information flows.
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Questions Around Data Privacy and Anonymisation
Privacy is a central concern in this plan. The EU has stated that all shared data will be anonymised so that individuals cannot be directly identified.
However, the process is complex. The European Commission has acknowledged the difficulty of keeping data useful while ensuring privacy is protected.
To address this, companies and stakeholders have been asked to review the proposed system. They are evaluating whether the balance between data usefulness and privacy protection is appropriate.
There are also concerns about re-identification. Even when data is anonymised, combining it with other datasets could make it possible to identify individuals indirectly.
Because of these risks, the effectiveness of anonymisation will depend on how the system is designed. The current procedure shows that the model is still being refined and is not yet fully finalised.
This stage highlights the technical challenges involved. It also shows that further adjustments may be made before the system is fully implemented.
EU Digital Wallet to Store Identity on Phones
Alongside the data-sharing plan, the EU is developing the European Digital Identity Wallet, known as the EUDI Wallet. This is a separate initiative but is progressing at the same time.
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The digital wallet will allow people to store official documents on their smartphones. These include ID cards, driving licences, and other certificates.
Deployment is set to begin in 2026, with wider use expected by 2027 across all EU member states. The wallet will support identification, electronic signatures, and access to public and private services.
A key feature is interoperability. The same system will work across all 27 EU countries, removing the need for multiple national systems.
At the same time, this approach centralises standards and validation at the European level. The EU will define how the system operates across all member states.
Together, these two initiatives reflect a broader shift. One focuses on access to digital behaviour data, while the other focuses on verifying identity.
Each serves a different function, but both contribute to structuring the digital environment. The data-sharing system creates a layer of information, while the digital wallet creates a layer of identity verification.
These developments show how the EU is shaping the systems that support digital activity. Both initiatives are based on different legal frameworks but are advancing in parallel, influencing how the digital space in Europe is organised and managed.
