Mozilla is leveling some pretty serious accusations against Microsoft, including that the company is promoting its proprietary browser, Edge, to Windows users by using deceptive tactics. These allegedly include the use of deceptive advertisements, notifications worded as system warnings, and confusing interfaces.
In case you don't know, Mozilla is a non-profit open source organization behind the Firefox web browser, which competes with Microsoft Edge. Mozilla has addressed Microsoft directly, asking it to stop its current practices and calling for broader industry regulations to make things fairer for competing browsers.
It recently published a report titled “Over the Edge: Using Design Tactics to Undermine Browser Choice.” He begins by stating that users should have the right to choose their browser and use it without interference from their operating system.
He goes on to accuse Microsoft of using misleading design elements, calling them “dark patterns” that try to not-so-subtly corral users into using Microsoft's Edge browser, which is installed by default on Windows 10 and Windows 11 (by similar to how Internet Explorer was in the past). Mozilla explains that this makes it difficult for competitors to gain visibility, much less for Windows 11 users to install and use it, putting Edge rivals like Chrome and Firefox at a disadvantage.
Mozilla goes into detail about some of the tactics it alleges Microsoft is using. They include actions such as injecting Edge ads when users went to the Chrome download page or when using Bing search in other browsers, designing a deliberately confusing Windows 11 interface, and cases of misleading language in notifications that look like system warnings. You can see Mozilla's complaints in full in their report.
The dust has settled: what comes next?
The organization suggests that Microsoft is reducing user options and preventing fair competition in the browser market. Mozilla does not mince words and urges Microsoft to reconsider its “harmful designs.” It also requires regulators to get involved and facilitate fairer competition.
So, the ball is in Microsoft's court, and the company has yet to respond to Mozilla's report. This is not the first accusation of its kind directed at Microsoft (among other technology companies). Some of Mozilla's complaints could be addressed in the upcoming Digital Market Act (DMA) in Europe, which comes into force in March 2024, so we'll see.
We will be watching to see if Microsoft responds, as many users will agree with Mozilla and competition is often useful for consumers to have more options and better results. We have also contacted Microsoft for a response to this report.
It's best not to jump to conclusions, but Microsoft has a prolific history of bad competition practices in the market (which many people probably don't remember, fortunately for Microsoft). Microsoft is no stranger to being in trouble with regulators, even when it comes to browsers: it faced multiple legal challenges in the US regarding its controversial marketing and distribution practices, particularly with programs like Internet Explorer, in the decade 1990. Let's hope we don't go back to old habits.
