About the Google European Search Dataset Licensing Program

On September 6, 2023, the European Commission announced that Google has been designated as a
gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). From March 2024, Google made available to
qualifying recipients the relevant search dataset including appropriately anonymized data in order
to comply with Art. 6(11) DMA. On July 16, 2026, the European Commission adopted
measures
further specifying how Google should comply with its obligations under Art. 6(11) DMA (the
Measures), by making available to qualifying recipients a specified search dataset (the
Search Dataset).

• The European Commission’s Measures and associated criteria and requirements for accessing
  the Search Dataset: The Measures cover recipient eligibility, the scope of the data that
  should be made available, the frequency with which Google should make the data available, the
  fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms for access to such data, and the
  specific purposes for which the data can be used. Since recipients will receive personal data
  under the Measures, they also establish the associated liability for the receipt of such data
  and specify detailed technical and organizational requirements regarding data segregation,
  access control, and logging, all of which are subject to third-party auditing and reporting.
  Access to the data is also subject to recipients accepting Google’s licensing terms. For more
  details, see the
  Measures.
• The Search Dataset: Comprises ranking, query, click, and view data from Google Search in
  the European Economic Area (EEA). More details can be found in the
  Measures
  and technical details will be provided to relevant applicants in due course in accordance with
  the Measures.
• FRAND pricing basis and process: Fees are determined on FRAND terms, which the Measures
  limit to the incremental costs of making the data available, together with a specified rate of
  return. Further details are set out in the
  Measures
  and will be provided to relevant applicants in due course in accordance with the Measures.

Eligibility criteria to receive search data

To qualify in principle for a license, interested applicants must meet the following conditions
specified in the Measures:

• Online search engine (OSE): The applicant must qualify as a provider of an online
  search engine as defined in Art. 2(6) DMA.
• Operating in the
  EEA:
  The applicant must operate within the EEA, meaning that their online search engine must be
  directed at users located in the EEA.
• Control by non-EEA states: The applicant must not be directly or indirectly subject
  to the control of a non-EEA state that poses a serious and structural cyber security and/or
  data protection risk.
• No connection to an entity subject to restrictive measures or sanctions: The applicant
  must not be directly or indirectly under the operation or control of any natural or legal person
  subject to restrictive measures or sanctions under European Union (EU) law.
• Number of users and activity in the EU: The applicant must (i) either have provided OSE
  services in the EU for at least the last two consecutive years at the time of applying, or have
  been founded less than two years before applying but received more than EUR 50 million in
  capital investments; and (ii) have had at least 50,000 monthly average users of its OSE services
  in the EU in the past year.

Google may ask you to provide supporting documents to verify that you meet the above requirements.

Access to data samples before application

Before purchasing access to the Search Dataset, eligible applicants may request access to data
samples, as follows:

• Sample A: A 1,000-row dataset provided free of charge.
• Sample B: A synthetic dataset of up to 10 million queries for a fee.
• Sample C: A 5% sample of the Search Dataset for a fee.

More details on the data samples can be found at paragraphs 101–114 of the
Measures
and will be provided in due course. The data samples will be available as of November 16, 2026.

Technical and organizational requirements and third-party audits

While the Measures require Google to apply a set of technical measures to the search data
before sharing, the data that will be provided will still contain personal data and the Measures
rely on the recipients’ internal data segregation so that individuals won’t be re-identified. As such, the
Measures require a significant technical and organizational commitment to data separation, control,
and auditability. Among other things, this includes:

• As a mandatory pre-requisite for access to Sample C and the Search Dataset itself, eligible
  applicants must undergo an independent assessment and provide a Level 1 reasonable assurance
  report. This report must be issued by an independent third-party auditor, qualified to inspect the
  applicant’s technical infrastructure, storage systems, and workflows to verify compliance with the
  program’s advanced security and privacy standards. For more details on the specific criteria and
  testing protocols required for the Level 1 reasonable assurance report, see paragraphs 69–72 and
  82–86 of the
  Measures.
• To maintain ongoing access to the Search Dataset, eligible recipients must submit to regular,
  continuous monitoring by an independent assurance practitioner and provide a Level 2 reasonable
  assurance report. This subsequent report, complying with the requirements set out at paragraphs 73
  and 82–86 of the
  Measures,
  is required to verify sustained and uninterrupted compliance with these operational safeguards.

Further specificity on the precise technical and auditability measures required will be available
in the data licensing agreement, which Google will provide to relevant applicants starting on
September 17, 2026. The licensing agreement will also establish the overall contractual
responsibilities recipients owe to Google and to third parties whose personal data they receive.

How to express interest in receiving the Search Dataset

If your organization meets the program’s eligibility criteria and is prepared to invest in
achieving the relevant technical, security, and auditability safeguards,
fill out this form
to request more information or to begin the application process. Google will respond to your
request within 7 calendar days of receiving your expression of interest, as set out in paragraph 125
of the Measures.