The Browser Choice Alliance (BCA), which includes leading browser developers, has accused Microsoft of actively restricting users’ choice of web browsing software. The company hinders the consumer’s ability to use alternative browsers—Windows keeps sending them back to Edge, even though there are many other options available today.
Image source: microsoft.com
The BCA includes Opera, Vivaldi, Wavebox, Waterfox and Google, the developer of the most popular Chrome browser on Windows. The organization has formally called on the European Commission to grant Microsoft Edge Gatekeeper status under Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which would force Microsoft to give Windows users more browser choices.
Now Microsoft, according to the BCA, is abusing its capabilities – the company uses dark patterns (interface elements that manipulate user actions), technical limitations and deception methods to deter users from switching to other browsers. The company even changed Windows settings to prevent it from choosing a different default browser. Pop-ups, warnings and unnecessary, confusing steps are used to dissuade users from choosing alternatives, BCA says. The quality of the Windows experience suffers from this, since the browser’s default settings deliberately complicate the process of choosing another program. Those who try to find another browser through the Bing search engine are additionally forced to use Edge.
Despite the growth of the mobile app market, where Microsoft is not a major player, and changing technology trends, web browsers remain an important means of accessing the Internet. Services that have a significant impact on everyday life, including artificial intelligence tools, depend on a healthy web browser ecosystem. The BCA emphasizes that these applications will continue to play a key role in areas such as education and entrepreneurship for many years to come.
The alliance aims to promote fair competition among browser developers in the desktop OS market, where Microsoft still holds more than 70% of the global market. It is worth noting, however, that the BCA does not include such a large player as Mozilla, the developer of Firefox. Recently, American authorities demanded that Google sell Chrome in order to weaken the company’s search monopoly – with its presence in the alliance, Google is apparently trying to divert public attention to another monopoly.