EU Regulators Urged to Act Against Microsoft’s Edge Browser

Web browser developers Vivaldi, Waterfox, Wavebox, and the Open Web Advocacy group have urged the European Union to take action against Microsoft for allegedly promoting its Edge browser unfairly on Windows. They argue that Microsoft’s dominance in the PC market allows Edge to gain an undue advantage, making it the default browser and using misleading pop-up messages to discourage users from switching to other browsers.

In their letter to the European Commission, these developers support a legal challenge by Opera, which contends that Edge should be subject to the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). The DMA aims to prevent large online platforms from abusing their market power and to ensure fair competition. The group emphasized that no independent browser can match Edge’s distribution advantage on Windows, as it serves as the primary gateway for consumers to download other browsers.

The developers claim that pre-installation of Edge on Windows PCs gives it a significant edge, making it the main method for users to access and download competing browsers. They also accuse Microsoft of misrepresenting the features of rival browsers through its pop-up messages, further skewing user choice in favor of Edge.

Despite these allegations, the European Commission, in a February decision, exempted Edge from the DMA. The Commission stated that Edge does not qualify as a dominant player and therefore cannot be considered a gatekeeper. According to StatCounter, Edge’s global market share stands at approximately 5%, whereas Google’s Chrome leads with 66%.

Source: Why rival browsers want EU to take action against Microsoft Edge – Times of India