EU Orders Google to Open Android's Mic, Camera and Screen Access to Rival AI Assistants

The European Commission has ordered Google to give competing AI assistants the same deep access to Android's core system functions that its own Gemini enjoys, in a landmark ruling that could reshape how AI assistants operate at the operating-system level. Adopted on July 16, 2026, the two binding specification decisions under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) require Google to open 11 OS features to third parties, with implementation targeted for Android 18 and a hard deadline of August 1, 2027.