Google Flags Privacy Risks in EU Search Data Sharing Plan

The European Commission is pressing Google to hand over detailed search‑engine data—queries, clicks, rankings and view metrics—to rival platforms. The move is part of the Digital Markets Act, which seeks to curb the dominance of large tech firms and expand user choice.

Google’s senior scientist Sergei Vassilvitskii told EU antitrust officials that a recent internal “red team” exercise quickly re‑identified individuals in datasets the company had stripped of personal identifiers. The test suggests current anonymisation techniques may not sufficiently protect user privacy.

Regulators must decide whether to enforce the data‑sharing requirement by July 27. If Google fails to comply, the Digital Markets Act allows fines of up to 10 % of a company’s global annual revenue, a penalty that could reach billions of dollars for a firm of Google’s size.

Google is positioning its warning as a call for stronger safeguards rather than outright opposition. Vassilvitskii said the company will work with officials to craft measures that balance competition goals with privacy protection.

The debate pits competition policy against privacy risk. Should the EU adopt stricter anonymisation standards, it could set a precedent for data‑sharing obligations worldwide. If the deadline passes without a revised framework, Google could face hefty fines and a forced data hand‑over.

Watch for the EU’s final ruling in late July and any subsequent negotiations on privacy safeguards that could reshape how big tech shares user data across borders.