Opera has taken a significant step by filing a formal antitrust complaint against Microsoft with Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE). The Norwegian software company accuses the tech giant of leveraging its dominant position in the operating system market to provide Microsoft Edge with an unfair edge in the competitive browser landscape.
Allegations of Unfair Practices
In a statement reported by GHacks, Opera claims that Microsoft’s practice of pre-installing Edge on all Windows-powered devices effectively sidelines rival browsers from gaining preinstallation opportunities. This, they argue, creates an uneven playing field right from the start.
Opera’s complaint goes further, criticizing Microsoft’s user interface design choices. The company alleges that these choices employ what are referred to as “dark patterns,” which are tactics intended to discourage users from downloading and switching to alternative browsers. According to Opera, these strategies are particularly evident when users attempt to download competing browsers through Edge or the Bing search engine.
Additionally, Opera has raised concerns regarding persistent prompts and notifications within Windows 11 that encourage users to adopt Edge, even if they have selected a third-party browser as their default choice. The company argues that such practices infringe upon user autonomy and restrict consumer choice.
Call for Regulatory Action
Opera is urging CADE to initiate an investigation into Microsoft’s practices, emphasizing that regulatory scrutiny is crucial for maintaining a competitive balance in the browser market. Should Microsoft be found in violation of Brazil’s antitrust regulations, it could face potential sanctions or be required to alter its integration strategies for Edge within the Windows ecosystem.
This recent complaint is not Opera’s first legal endeavor against Microsoft. In June 2024, the company filed a lawsuit against the European Commission concerning its decision to exempt Microsoft Edge from the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a case that remains active. Opera, alongside other members of the Browser Choice Alliance—including Chrome, Vivaldi, Waterfox, and Wavebox—has also advocated for Microsoft Edge to be classified as a gatekeeper under the DMA framework.
Last month, in response to increasing European regulatory scrutiny, Microsoft announced a series of changes, including the cessation of prompting users to set Edge as the default browser if it had not been actively used. However, Opera contends that more comprehensive measures are necessary on a global scale to ensure fair treatment for all browsers.
Source: GHacks
