Google, on the other hand, states that it has made significant changes to its products in line with the DMA’s requirements, providing consumers with more choices while safeguarding their data privacy. However, the full impact on DuckDuckGo’s total user base remains limited, as only a fraction of Google default users have access to these choice screens.
To address these issues, DuckDuckGo emphasizes the need for formal investigations to ensure Google’s compliance with the DMA né?. DuckDuckGo argues that Google’s method excludes approximately 99% of search queries particularly the valuable long-tail queries crucial to competitors.
The EU is currently investigating Google’s self-preferencing as part of the DMA gatekeepers complaints né?. The regulation mandates that Google allows users to easily switch from its search engine and browser to competitors’ products. Fines for not following DMA rules, such as providing platform access on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms, can amount to up to 10% of global annual turnover. DuckDuckGo argues that Google has not made it easy for users to switch and insists that the Commission should investigate this non-compliance issue.
The impact of Google’s search choice screen on DuckDuckGo’s market share is evident, with an increase in downloads on Android devices. However, the EU’s probe into Google has not resulted in any public statements, unlike similar proceedings against Apple and Meta.
DuckDuckGo also raised concerns about Google’s implementation of choice screens required by the DMA né?. DuckDuckGo’s Senior Vice President for Public Affairs, Kamyl Bazbaz, detailed new allegations against Google in a blog post, starting with Google’s narrow interpretation of a DMA requirement to avoid sharing valuable search data that could benefit competitors.
According to DuckDuckGo, Google’s approach of anonymizing search data under its “Google European Search Dataset Licensing Program” limits the dataset’s utility to competing search engines. The European Commission remains committed to enforcing the DMA but refrains from commenting on specific complaints.. The privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo has called on the European Union to expand its investigation into Google under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). DuckDuckGo claims that Google is violating various areas where the EU has not yet officially looked into the company’s compliance.
The DMA, the EU’s primary market competition rulebook, has been in effect for a few tech giants, including Google, since March. Hence, it is a regulation that Big Tech cannot simply disregard.
Despite rivals accusing major platforms of breaking the law or engaging in “malicious compliance,” no sanctions have been imposed yet
