What Happened
The European Commission has proposed measures that would require Google to share anonymized search data with rival search engines and eligible AI chatbots — under fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms.
This isn't a suggestion. It's a regulatory hammer that could reshape how search competition works across the European Economic Area (EEA). The proposal covers three core areas: eligibility criteria for who gets access to the data, the technical methods for sharing it, and the anonymization standards that protect user privacy.
The backdrop is Google's ongoing antitrust battles in the EU. Regulators have long argued that Google's dominance in search creates a data moat — the more people search on Google, the better Google's results become, which drives more people to Google. This proposal aims to break that cycle by giving competitors access to the same search intelligence.
AI chatbots are explicitly included in the eligibility framework. This means services like Perplexity, You.com, and other AI-first search tools could get access to Google's search patterns and trends — data that currently gives Google an insurmountable advantage in training and refining its own AI models.
Google opposes the proposal, arguing that mandatory data sharing could compromise user privacy and create security risks. The final decision is due by July 27, 2026.
Key Takeaways
- The EU Commission wants Google to share anonymized search data with rival search engines and AI chatbots under FRAND terms.
- AI chatbots are explicitly eligible — this could accelerate competition in AI search by giving newcomers access to Google's search intelligence.
- Google opposes the proposal on privacy and security grounds; the final decision is expected by July 27, 2026.
- If enacted, this could fundamentally weaken Google's data moat in the EEA and create a more level playing field for search competitors.
The ONmetrics Take
This is the most significant regulatory challenge to Google's search monopoly in years — and it could reshape how businesses get found online.
1. More search engines = more optimization targets — If this passes, you won't just be optimizing for Google. Perplexity, You.com, and other AI search tools will have better data, better results, and more users. Your SEO strategy needs to account for a multi-engine world. 2. Data moats are crumbling — Google's biggest competitive advantage has always been data. Regulators are now systematically dismantling that advantage — first with the Digital Markets Act, now with mandatory data sharing. This trend isn't reversing. 3. Watch the July decision, but don't wait — Even if this specific proposal gets watered down, the direction is clear. Businesses that diversify their search presence now will be ahead of the curve when the landscape shifts.
The bottom line: For businesses in London, Ontario — and across Canada — this EU regulation could have ripple effects that reach well beyond Europe. When Google's data moat erodes, search competition intensifies, and that changes where your customers find you. The smart move isn't to wait for the ruling. It's to make sure your business is visible across multiple search platforms today — Google, AI chatbots, social search, and local directories. We're already building multi-platform visibility strategies for clients. The businesses that show up everywhere will win, regardless of what happens in Brussels.