Google reportedly asked the General Court of the European Union in Luxembourg on September 29, 2026, for interim measures to suspend the European Commission’s Search-data specification. Google also reportedly challenged the order that day.
What the EU Search-data specification covers
The European Commission adopted the binding specification on July 16, 2026, under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). It covers the same search data Google collects to optimize its own search services. The Commission says Google should share that data with eligible third-party search engines, subject to anonymization. AI chatbots that offer search functionality may also qualify.
The Commission describes a multi-layered anonymization process and says Google can assess serious cybersecurity and data-protection risks for a specific recipient. The specification also sets out a formula for pricing the data and a transparent access process. The Commission says the measure is intended to help third-party search engines develop and improve their services, supporting more competition and search options.
The Commission’s July announcement also covered separate Android interoperability measures. Google’s reported challenge concerns the Search-data specification.
Google’s privacy objection and the Commission’s safeguards
Google’s reported objection is that the data-sharing order creates serious privacy and security risks for European users. The Commission says its measure includes security features and protections for end users’ personal data, including anonymization and recipient-specific risk assessments.
