BRUSSELS, January 17, 2026 — The European Commission has formally ordered Google to remove restrictions that prevent Android device makers from pre-installing rival AI assistants and voice services, marking a major expansion of the bloc’s antitrust enforcement against the company.
The decision, announced Friday, builds on the Commission’s 2018 ruling that Google abused its dominant position in Android by tying its own search and browser apps to the operating system.
Today’s order extends those remedies to AI-powered assistants and voice assistants, requiring Google to allow manufacturers to set competing services as default on Android phones and tablets sold in the European Economic Area.
The Commission found that Google’s contracts and technical barriers effectively foreclosed competition in the market for digital assistants.
Google must implement the changes within 12 months and faces potential fines of up to 10% of global annual turnover for non-compliance. The company has 90 days to appeal the decision to the EU’s General Court.
Google said it will review the order and cooperate with regulators while defending its practices. A spokesperson stated: “We continue to believe that our Android agreements benefit consumers, developers, and device makers by providing choice and innovation.”
The company has already appealed parts of the 2018 Android ruling and paid €4.34 billion in fines related to that case.
The decision follows years of investigation and reflects the EU’s broader push to curb gatekeeper power under the Digital Markets Act. Similar requirements already apply to Apple’s iOS ecosystem in the region.
The move could reshape the Android experience in Europe, where more than 80% of smartphones run Google’s operating system. Rival AI assistants may gain wider distribution, potentially increasing competition in voice search, smart home control, and personal productivity features.
