EU DMA forces Google to open 11 Android features to all assistants
Original: A big win for Android interoperability
Why This Matters
The ruling sets a precedent for mandating equal API access on dominant mobile platforms across the EU.
On July 16, 2026, the European Commission issued a ruling under the Digital Markets Act requiring Alphabet to open 11 Android features — including always-on wake word detection and ambient sensor access — to all third-party assistants on equal terms.
The European Commission adopted a binding decision under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) on July 16, 2026, requiring Alphabet (Google's parent company) to open up 11 previously restricted Android features to third-party developers. The ruling covers always-on wake word detection, ambient sensor access, and screen automation, among others. The Open Home Foundation, which develops Home Assistant, was invited by the EC to consult on Android interoperability as part of this process. The Foundation's Android developer, Timothy Nibeaudeau, submitted feedback highlighting how Google had restricted wake word detection exclusively to its own Gemini assistant. Specifically, Android's two-stage wake word system — which uses a low-power DSP chip for initial detection and a CPU-based model for confirmation — was inaccessible to third-party apps, with no public developer documentation available. Home Assistant had spent three years attempting to build always-on wake word support ('Okay Nabu') in its Android Companion app, resorting to workarounds that broke after device reboots. The Foundation argued Google had no legitimate grounds for these restrictions beyond self-interest. The EC's decision reflects the DMA's goal of preventing gatekeeper platforms from using their market position to disadvantage competitors. The Open Home Foundation described the outcome as a direct win for user privacy, choice, and smart home interoperability.