In Brussels, the Google issue keeps resurfacing like a perennial topic that never fades. This time, the European Commission is targeting Article 6, paragraph 11, of the Digital Markets Regulation (DMA), and its idea is simple on paper: to force Google to open up, under certain conditions, a portion of its search data to competing search engines operating in Europe.
The deadline is set: no later than July 27, 2026, even though the technical details are still under discussion and a public consultation ended on May 1st. Google, for its part, is gritting its teeth. The company considers this information strategic and fears seeing its advantage, built on algorithms and sheer volume, erode in favor of smaller players.
Between competition and the fantasy of "plundering" historical sites
On social media, the narrative has already shifted: some are swearing that the European Union will "plunder your Google history" and implement widespread surveillance. In reality, the text does not provide for direct access by the Commission to the individual histories of Europeans; the stated objective is to share data with competitors to promote alternatives, within a framework intended to remain compatible with the GDPR.
The line between useful portability and personal concerns is thin, especially when it concerns our search queries, those traces of daily life sometimes more revealing than a personal diary. After Android, Shopping, and AdSense, the confrontation takes a new turn, and the gradual implementation of the DMA promises a close battle on one point: how far can we open the black box of search without damaging user trust?
