The European Commission this week requested, but did not order Google to allow third party search engines in Europe access to its search data as a means to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), legislation the Commission describes as a law designed to “make the markets in the digital sector fairer and more contestable.”
Google was sent a set of proposed measures on Wednesday that, according to a release, would grant third party search engines, including Qwant from France, Mojeek, based in the UK, swisscows from Switzerland, and Ecosia, Good, and metaGer, all headquartered in Germany, the ability to access search data, such as ranking, query, and click and view data “on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms.”
In a statement, Teresa Ribera, executive vice-president for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition with the Commission, said that the decision “sets out the specifications we expect Google to follow to comply with its obligations under the [DMA]. Data is a key input for online search and for developing new services, including AI.”
