European Union antitrust regulators are being urged to impose strict regulations on Microsoft’s Edge browser, according to a letter sent to the European Commission by a coalition of rival browsers and web developers, including Vivaldi, Waterfox, and Wavebox.
This assertion could potentially benefit Norwegian browser company Opera, which is currently in a legal dispute with the EU over its exemption of Edge from the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Opera initiated this court challenge in July.
The DMA outlines specific guidelines for online services that serve as critical pathways for businesses to connect with consumers, aiming to facilitate easier service selection for users from various providers.
The coalition expressed its support for Opera’s legal actions, stating, “It is paramount that the Commission reconsiders its position,” in a letter dated September 17 that was reviewed by Reuters.
The group highlighted the current unfair advantages of Edge within the Windows environment, noting that the browser is set as the default on all Windows devices. They criticized the availability of choice screens on mobile platforms versus the lack of similar options on Windows.
“No platform-independent browser can hope to compete with Edge’s unique distribution advantages on Windows,” they stated. “Additionally, Edge serves as the primary channel for users to download alternative browsers on Windows PCs.”
Both Microsoft and the European Commission have refrained from commenting on the matter. According to StatCounter, Edge holds a global market share of just over 5%, while Google Chrome continues to dominate with 66% market share.
The coalition also contended that Edge features misleading pop-up notifications that misrepresent the distinct functionalities of competing browsers.
In its February ruling, the European Commission categorized Edge as not being a gatekeeper, asserting that the DMA mandates Microsoft to enable users to easily uninstall any software applications.
© Thomson Reuters 2024
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