Microsoft has a history of stirring up debates, especially regarding questionable competitive business strategies. A study conducted in 2024 by Mozilla alleged that Microsoft employs damaging designs and misleading methods to encourage Windows users towards its Edge browser.
The incriminating document revealed that the company employed deceptive methods in user interfaces and advertisements to convince users to keep Microsoft Edge as the default browser on Windows, rather than any other. Mozilla argued that this practice put browsers such as Firefox at a clear competitive disadvantage, prompting them to urge regulatory bodies to address the problem.
It appears that Opera, like us, holds similar views, but instead of discussing the issue further, they have taken a more proactive approach. Specifically, Opera has submitted an official complaint to Brazil’s Competition Authority (CADE), accusing Microsoft of unfair business practices.
Microsoft consistently hinders browser competition on Windows in several ways. Initially, browsers such as Opera are denied crucial pre-installation opportunities. Additionally, Microsoft makes it difficult for users to download and utilize alternative browsers. If a user in Brazil wants to use a browser other than Edge on their Windows device, they should be allowed to do so without encountering active obstruction or discouragement.
Aaron McParlan, General Counsel at Opera
Opera hinted that the tech behemoth utilizes anticompetitive business tactics to boost Microsoft Edge’s position against other platforms, potentially limiting the availability of genuine and fair options for consumers on PCs.
The issue at hand additionally emphasizes that Microsoft automatically installs and designates their Edge browser as the sole default option on all Windows systems. Furthermore, Microsoft employs misleading strategies that make it challenging for users to discover and utilize other web browsers, such as:
- Microsoft deploys obtrusive banners and messages discouraging users from downloading alternative browsers at the very moment they are searching for those browsers on Edge.
- Microsoft ignores users’ default choices in critical moments, such as opening PDFs, accessing links in emails, and using the Windows Search bar, opening Edge instead.
Opera contends that such strategies are detrimental to the online market, labeling them as unfair and annoying for users. Even more troubling, they suggest that these misleading tricks and manipulative designs are becoming increasingly intense, persisting even after complaints have been made.
What does Opera want from Microsoft?
In voicing its concerns to CADE, I, Opera, am standing up for consumers’ right to freely choose their web browser. This action is an essential part of our mission to ensure this choice is respected. We are striving to find a resolution that fosters fair competition within Microsoft’s dominant Windows environment by proposing the following measures:
- Stop preventing PC manufacturers from preloading alternative browsers and setting them as default and requiring OEMs to deliver S mode devices as a condition for rebates on a Windows OS license;
- Stop blocking consumers from easily and freely downloading and setting third-party browsers as default for browser entry points across Windows and stop ignoring or overriding these default selections;
- Cease, and refrain from implementing, any dark patterns that push users towardsEdge; and
- Ensure that users have a real, concrete opportunity to choose their preferred browser, through a user-friendly browser choice screen that includes the main available PC browsers.
Back in 2024, the European Union Commission categorized some of Microsoft’s services such as Bing, Windows, LinkedIn, and Edge as “gatekeeper services.” This meant that Microsoft had six months to adhere to the Digital Markets Act (DMA) or else face potential heavy fines and penalties.
As a researcher, I found myself delving into a situation where Microsoft contended that their Edge and Bing services hadn’t yet reached the necessary level of dominance. Upon thorough investigation by the commission, it was determined that these services did not hold enough influence in digital markets to warrant application of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulation.
Opera’s dispute with Microsoft in the EU Courts might result in designating Edge as a service requiring supervision under the DMA. In June, Microsoft declared changes they were implementing to ensure Windows 11 adheres to the DMA, such as lessening their promotion of first-party apps and services like Microsoft Edge.
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2025-07-30 13:09