EU Orders Google to Give Rival AI Apps the Same Android Access as Gemini

[inventor7777]

I don’t see anyone complaining about Apple / Google because of apps on alternative app stores available in the eu. If user decides to use some shady ai - that’s on them. They could probably do that with jailbreak too. Your whole speech is based on some bizarre assumptions.

At least for me personally, my main issue with their approach is simply that there has to be SOME kind of gate.

E.g if you install an app like ChatGPT and intend only to chat inside the app, having the phone automatically grant access to, say...calendars, recent apps, photos, contacts, etc...would be a very bad idea. Especially if they use any sort of misleading prompting - e.g asking for a full system access API just to get your location.

 

[tonmischa]

users will still hold Google responsible because it's Google's platform.

That is actually a good example why the walled garden concept is problematic.

Imagine catching a virus on your Mac. Would you hold Apple responsible for that?
It was you who visited the website / opened the infected e-mail / clicked on the promising link.
Most people would not argue with that.

But on the phone, it is "Apple's fault" / "Google's fault". Why is that?
Because of the walled garden, we are conditioned to hold the "Gatekeeper" responsible for everything.
That has to change. And that is the EU's intention. And I believe it is a good intention.

The execution on the other hand is ... debatable. ;-)

EDIT:

they’re going to pop up an alert “Set Grok as the default”.

And 95% of users won’t know what they’re approving when they click yes.

Agreed.
That's why this will require a lot of effort on Apple's / Google's part to build a system that satisfies EU's demands and also gives users all the information what they are actually approving.

No easy task. I believe it is possible, but I can absolutely understand why they are unhappy about being forced to do all this work that goes against their own interests.

That's why it will be so interesting to see how this will play out.
Will they invent a new system?
Will they lobby for changes in the law?
Will they simply keep the feature out of EU?

 

[danpass]

...........

Shortly after announcing Siri AI, Apple said EU regulators would not accept any of its proposed solutions to introduce the feature, and refused to engage on options that "preserve privacy and security." ......

Dear peoples of the EU ....

Please stop being so stupid as to think that the EU Commission operates on your behalf.

-

 

[WilliApple]

Grok would love this

 

[surferfb]

Agreed.
That's why this will require a lot of effort on Apple's / Google's part to build a system that satisfies EU's demands and also gives users all the information what they are actually approving.

No easy task. I believe it is possible, but I can absolutely understand why they are unhappy about being forced to do all this work that goes against their own interests.

That's why it will be so interesting to see how this will play out.
Will they invent a new system?
Will they lobby for changes in the law?
Will they simply keep the feature out of EU?

The DMA specifically says:

Gatekeepers should not engage in behaviour that would undermine the effectiveness of the prohibitions and obligations laid down in this Regulation. Such behaviour includes the design used by the gatekeeper, the presentation of end-user choices in a non-neutral manner, or using the structure, function or manner of operation of a user interface or a part thereof to subvert or impair user autonomy, decision-making, or choice

This has previously been interpreted by the EC that Apple can’t suggest something is not safe or secure. In fact, Apple has already been fined for a confirmation popup that was deemed to be non-neutral despite presenting factual information.

I totally understand the intentions behind the DMA, but I really think the EC is way over their heads. They’re not qualified to be enforcing these rules because, in my opinion, they clearly don’t understand the realities of the situations they’re trying to regulate.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Why they gotta force it? I thought Android was the open alternative you can go to do whatever you want if you don’t like Apple?

Sarcasm, kind of.

 

[Skwoodge]

The EU can kick rocks.

Yeah ... this is getting really tiring.

 

[MNGR]

How long until they order Apple and Google to make all their code open source? Only half joking…

Probably Aug 13, 2026

 

[tonmischa]

I totally understand the intentions behind the DMA, but I really think the EC is way over their heads. They’re not qualified to be enforcing these rules because, in my opinion, they clearly don’t understand the realities of the situations they’re trying to regulate.

I know what you mean and after today i am a bit closer to your position, but I am still kind of a "wishful thinker":

Some inventions would not have happened if not for regulations forcing them.
Examples include:
- Catalytic converters (US Clean Air Act of 1970),
- General Motors EV1, a precursor for modern EVs (California Zero-Emission Vehicle mandate in 1990),
- Safety Glass (Federal Employers Liability Act of 1908)

So it will be exciting to see if Apple/Google will come up with something or if the missing AI feature will get actual backlash from the EU customers.
EDIT: Or if the EU will cave just like they did with the Battery Removal Requirement for AirPods.

 

[dwsolberg]

The EU has good intentions, that's for sure.

 

[Student of Life]

The EU has good intentions, that's for sure.

The path to Hell is paved with good intentions unfortunately.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Dear peoples of the EU ....

Please stop being so stupid as to think that the EU Commission operates on your behalf.

-

With your framing, I'm assuming you're not a citizen in the EU footprint.

Let's perhaps not talk down to them like this please and reserve our opinions of this strength for our own jurisdictions?

 

[HQuest]

The EU: We want fair technologies for our citizens.
Also the EU: We will control our citizens chats.

It doesn't take much to see why this is all happening.

 

[tonmischa]

Dear peoples of the EU ....

Please stop being so stupid as to think that the EU Commission operates on your behalf.

-

Shouldn't you worry about your own country first, before telling other countries what to do or what to think?

I know you are only exercising your supposedly god-given right to 'peaceful expression,' but your words would carry much more weight if you were actually from a country where people are not paying unprecedented costs for fuel while oil executives take home billions. Something for which your government is directly responsible.

 

[jole]

If user decides to use some shady ai - that’s on them.

Most users have no idea what giving access to your phone to OpenAI, Anthropic, Moonshot, SpaceXai, Meta, or Zai will mean to their privacy. Almost no-one will read lengthy terms of service. Likely some of these AI providers will act ethically and not immediately go and download all your private data to use it to profile you or train their models.

Many users will choose a "free" AI provider. Users are the product, not the AI service.

Many of the top AI providers are ultimately controlled by CCP. Having millions of EU citizens data being collected and forever stored by CCP intelligence apparatus might not be in the best interest of EU, but will absolutely happen as a side-effect of this legislation if Apple or Google give the requested access.

 

[jole]

That's why this will require a lot of effort on Apple's / Google's part to build a system that satisfies EU's demands and also gives users all the information what they are actually approving.

If Apple/Google would give appropriate warnings, they likely still would not help much (most users just click ok without reading) and will yield Meta and other suing them for scaremongering. Here is a similar case.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Most users have no idea what giving access to your phone to OpenAI, Anthropic, Moonshot, SpaceXai, Meta, or Zai will mean to their privacy. Almost no-one will read lengthy terms of service. Likely some of these AI providers will act ethically and not immediately go and download all your private data to use it to profile you or train their models.

Many users will choose a "free" AI provider. Users are the product, not the AI service.

Many of the top AI providers are ultimately controlled by CCP. Having millions of EU citizens data being collected and forever stored by CCP intelligence apparatus might not be in the best interest of EU, but will absolutely happen as a side-effect of this legislation if Apple or Google give the requested access.

I don’t disagree with any of this, but I would point out that worldwide people are constantly willingly using companies and products that heinously violate their privacy left and right.

Often the same people do not care when you point it out.
I have many of these in my family.

 

[tonmischa]

If Apple/Google would give appropriate warnings, they likely still would not help much (most users just click ok without reading) and will yield Meta and other suing them for scaremongering. Here is a similar case.

I agree. It is not an easy task. That's why I am excited* to see how this turns out.

* I am not just curious, but I am genuinely excited. There is an opportunity here for real innovation. How to integrate AI into your digital life in a safe way. Not an easy task. By far. But not impossible either.
"When there's a will, there is a way."

However, I fear the will to open up the sacred walled garden is lacking.
EDIT: And also the will of the EU to actually work with the companies on a solution could also be lacking as well.

 

[mdcmdcmdc]

How much longer before the EU gets rid of all of its patent, copyright, and trademark laws?

 

[tonmischa]

How much longer before the EU gets rid of all of its patent, copyright, and trademark laws?

Shortly after hell freezes over.

 

[turbineseaplane]

To be fair to the gallery, I’m just pleased to see this level of outrage directed at the EU over something they’re trying to do to Google (vs Apple).

Bravo for being consistent. 👏
Seriously!

 

[jole]

I don’t disagree with any of this, but I would point out that worldwide people are constantly willingly using companies and products that heinously violate their privacy left and right.

Often the same people do not care when you point it out.
I have many of these in my family.

Agreed. What should be done with them?

One argument is that everyone should be free to do self-harm. Lets have assault rifles and meth freely available for sale at grocery stores. (USA sadly is already almost there with gun sales)

Another argument is the opposite: People need to be protected from themselves. Lets not allow selling beer after 10pm and only allow a selling wine in a government monopoly with mission to not sell anyone who might be alcoholic. (Finland has been on this path for decades and is achieving nothing)

I think neither works.

 

[WinstonSmyth]

What if both Apple and Android pulled out of the EU. Let everyone there use Nokia flip phones that Brussels can regulate.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Wow, I am absolutely thrilled to hear that Siri (powered by Google Gemini) will now be available to integrate and replace native Google Gemini. Technological progress is truly an amazing thing!

 

[Karma*Police]

I think it’s time the EU just created its own products. It’s amazing how these “problems” only affect rich, American companies.