OpenAI Warns EU: Big Tech's Data Dominance Threatens AI Competition

OpenAI has escalated its scrutiny of major technology firms in Europe, urging European Union antitrust regulators to address what it describes as anti-competitive practices by Apple Inc., Alphabet Inc.'s Google, and Microsoft Corp. The artificial intelligence developer raised its concerns during a September 24 meeting with EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera, emphasizing difficulties in competing with "entrenched" platforms and advocating for regulatory intervention to prevent customer lock-in. The firm highlighted issues spanning cloud computing, app development, and access to critical data, which it argues are essential for sustaining competition in AI markets.

Central to OpenAI's case is the assertion that dominant tech firms leverage their control over digital ecosystems to stifle rivals. For instance, Google's dominance in mobile operating systems and search, along with Apple's closed ecosystem, creates bottlenecks that limit the reach of competing AI assistants. OpenAI also pointed to Microsoft's growing integration of AI into its product suite, including the Copilot app, which directly competes with its own ChatGPT service. The firm's concerns align with broader EU antitrust scrutiny of Big Tech, as regulators under Margrethe Vestager have flagged risks of market concentration and exclusionary practices in AI-related sectors.

The European Commission's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which designates large tech firms as "gatekeepers," provides a framework for addressing these issues. OpenAI's advocacy mirrors the DMA's objectives, which include mandating interoperability, preventing self-preferencing, and ensuring fair data access. Vestager emphasized that AI development requires vast data, cloud infrastructure, and talent-resources concentrated among a few players-posing risks to smaller developers. The EU has already imposed significant fines on Big Tech in 2024, including a €1.84 billion penalty against Apple for restricting app developers on iOS and a €792.7 million fine on Meta for bundling services.

While OpenAI's actions fall short of a formal antitrust complaint, they signal a potential escalation in tensions with its partners and rivals. Microsoft, for example, has invested $13 billion in OpenAI but now competes with it through Copilot. The EU is also investigating Microsoft's exclusivity clauses in its OpenAI partnership and Google's pre-installation of its Gemini nano AI on Samsung devices. Analysts note that regulatory interventions could mandate data sharing or interoperability, reshaping the AI landscape but also raising privacy concerns.

The EU's antitrust focus extends beyond OpenAI, with national authorities pursuing multiple investigations into Big Tech. As of September 2025, over 50 antitrust cases against major tech firms remain active in the EU-27, the UK, and Switzerland, reflecting sustained regulatory pressure. OpenAI's engagement with EU regulators underscores the growing intersection of AI innovation and antitrust enforcement, as policymakers grapple with balancing competition and data protection in rapidly evolving markets.

Source: [1] Bloomberg (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-09/openai-warns-eu-antitrust-watchdogs-of-big-tech-s-data-dominance) [2] Appleinsider (https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/10/09/openai-complains-to-eu-that-apple-microsoft-google-may-hamper-growth) [4] Politico EU (https://www.politico.eu/article/microsoft-google-tech-deal-antitrust-security-open-ai-eu-margrethe-vestager/) [5] Archyde (https://www.archyde.com/openai-raises-concerns-over-apple-google-microsoft-practices-with-eu-antitrust-regulators-report-suggests/) [6] Aoshearman (https://www.aoshearman.com/en/insights/global-antitrust-enforcement-report/eu-leads-global-charge-as-abuse-of-dominance-cases-target-big-tech) [7] Cullen International (https://www.cullen-international.com/news/2025/10/Over-50-cases-and-counting--a-snapshot-of-European-antitrust-enforcement-against-big-tech.html)