Google Updates European Search Dataset Licensing Program With DMA Compliance Details
Google updated its European Search Dataset Licensing Program page on August 31, 2026, publishing refreshed eligibility criteria, data scope definitions, and application details. The update follows measures adopted by the European Commission on July 16, 2026, that specify how Google must comply with Article 6(11) of the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
What was announced
Google said it refreshed the program overview, eligibility criteria, and application details for the European Search Dataset Licensing Program. The page now documents the full scope of data that must be made available, the conditions under which it is shared, and the criteria that applicant organizations must meet.
The program exists because the European Commission designated Google as a "gatekeeper" under the DMA in September 2023. Under Article 6(11), Google is legally required to make search data available to qualifying competing search engines to support fair competition in the European search market.
What changed
The July 16, 2026 European Commission measures went further than the initial voluntary data-sharing that Google began in March 2024. The new measures specify in detail what data Google must provide, how frequently it must be made available, and the pricing framework that applies.
The updated Google page now reflects these binding requirements rather than the earlier, less specific program description.
Details and availability
The Search Dataset covers both free and paid search results. It consists of anonymized data generated by end users on Google Search within the European Economic Area (EEA), specifically:
- Ranking data
- Query data
- Click data
- View data
The data is available to eligible third-party online search engines, which the DMA definition extends to include AI chatbots that provide search engine functionality. Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
- Qualify as an online search engine provider under Article 2(6) of the DMA
- Operate within the EEA, with their search engine directed at users located in the EEA
- Not be directly or indirectly under the operation or control of non-EEA state actors
- Not be connected to any entity subject to EU restrictive measures or sanctions
Three conditions govern how the data is shared:
FRAND terms. Access is licensed under Fair, Reasonable, and Non-Discriminatory pricing. The European Commission measures limit fees to the incremental costs of making the data available, together with a specified rate of return.
Strict anonymization. Google must apply technical and contractual measures to ensure the data is fully anonymized and that personal data is protected.
Data processing and transfer restrictions. Google must assess whether applicants plan to process the data within the EEA or transfer it internationally. If data would be transferred outside the EEA to a country without an EU adequacy decision, Google must ensure equivalent data protection or reject the application.
Recipients of the data are subject to third-party auditing and reporting requirements, including obligations around data segregation, access control, and logging.
Context
The DMA's Article 6(11) is one of several obligations imposed on designated gatekeepers. It specifically requires gatekeepers that operate search engines to make certain ranking, query, click, and view data available to other search engine providers. The goal is to reduce the structural advantage that incumbent search engines hold from accumulated user interaction data.
Google began making data available on a voluntary basis in March 2024. The July 2026 Commission measures converted that voluntary program into a binding obligation with specific technical and commercial parameters. Eligible applicants can submit their requests through a Google-hosted application form.
What has not been confirmed
The updated page does not specify when the first data transfers under the new measures will occur, what the specific rate of return component of FRAND pricing will be, or which applicants have already been approved under the updated criteria. Google stated that technical details will be provided to relevant applicants "in due course in accordance with the Measures."
It is also not public how many organizations have applied, what categories of search engine or AI chatbot are seeking access, or whether any applications have been rejected.
