Major browser developers formed a coalition named the Browser Choice Alliance, aiming to defend users’ freedom to pick and use their preferred browser on Windows. The group includes Opera, Vivaldi, Chrome, Wavebox and Waterfox, all rallying to protect user choice in a landscape largely shaped by a single platform provider.
The Browser Choice Alliance says Microsoft uses its Windows OS prominence to curb competition. It points to several issues that it claims reduce the visibility of other browsers on the platform:
- Third party browsers confront loading friction and integration challenges that complicate switching after the initial setup.
- Windows updates are said to push Edge as the default or make it more likely to become the default option.
- Links from Microsoft services such as Teams and Outlook are commonly opened in Edge by default.
- System prompts and recommendations frequently favor Edge, nudging users toward that choice.
The alliance is urging regulators, including the European Commission, to intervene. Specifically, the group asks that Edge be recognized as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act and brought under its requirements, as part of a broader push to ensure fair access to Windows browsers.
Google’s participation in the alliance has drawn mixed reactions. While critics have pressed Microsoft over Windows bundling, Google faces antitrust scrutiny for Chrome’s dominant market position. In the United States, authorities have long scrutinized Google’s business practices, and Google’s involvement in this alliance adds an ironic twist for some observers who question how representative the coalition truly is.
Still, the Browser Choice Alliance says it will press on, advocating for stronger consumer protections and changes to Microsoft policies. The presence of a tech behemoth like Google has sparked debate about strategy and what it means for the broader browser ecosystem.
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