The Browser Choice Alliance It is a new association created specifically against Microsoft Edge or, to be more precise, against the anti-competitive methods that, in the opinion of its members, Microsoft uses to boost the adoption of its browser by taking advantage of the Windows monopoly.
The organization is made up of Chrome, Opera, Vivaldi, Waterfox and Wavebox, and they are specifically asking the European Union for something that providers like Opera already have in court, which includes Microsoft Edge as guardian of the Digital Markets Law (DMA).
Browser Choice Alliance
You already know that the European WFD is recent legislation that aims to “ensure a fair and open digital market”preventing large technology companies from taking advantage of their dominant position for their own benefit and thereby competition is stimulated and alternatives from other smaller companies are favored.
It must be said that ALL big tech, each in its sector and in one way or another, they take advantage of their dominant position since time immemorial. And here Google is included with its search or Android service; to Apple with the App Store; a Meta in social networks; to Amazon for ebooks or for its e-commerce platform, and a long, long etc. Of course, Microsoft is another on the list, with Windows, Office or its browser.
The Browser Choice Alliance puts Microsoft Edge on target. And not because of its market share (which is very low compared to the leader Chrome), but to highlight the problems associated with the way in which Microsoft promotes its browser on Windows computers. If you can contrast Google’s presence by its high share, it may also be surprising that others (more affected) such as Mozilla Firefox are not included.
Microsoft’s tactics
From the new association they remember that Windows is the leading desktop operating system, with more than 70% of the market share worldwide. “This power has allowed Microsoft to restrict the ability of rival software to compete on Windows by creating misleading restrictions against competitors.”they comment.
They also point out the techniques that Microsoft uses and that we have been seeing here for years: “dark patterns, technical obstacles and deceptions to prevent consumers from accessing the browser they want or setting it as their default”. Speaking clearly, a ‘dirty game’ that includes:
- Create obstacles to downloading a different browser.
- Change users’ default settings to Edge during regular updates.
- Force links to open in Microsoft’s own services (Teams/Outlook, etc.) in Edge or Bing.
- Coercive messages around browser choice, encouraging users to “restore Microsoft recommended browser settings”.
- Using Microsoft Defender SmartScreen antivirus to display misleading pop-up screens, warnings when downloading a third-party browser.
- Artificially complicate browser switching by separating all web protocols.
It is not certain that the European Union will change its mind and include Microsoft Edge as a guardian of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Self-regulation that would avoid conflicts would be more desirable, but Microsoft has had plenty of time and has not responded to any request from the competition. We will see.
Source: www.muycomputer.com
