Opera has filed an antitrust complaint against Microsoft in Brazil. The complaint alleges that Edge has an unfair advantage in the browser market because of its operating system.
Reuters reports that Opera's complaint to Brazilian antitrust authority CADE claims that Microsoft thwarts browser competition on Windows by pre-installing Edge across Windows devices. It says that other browsers like Opera are locked out of important preinstallation opportunities.
The Norway-based company also said that Microsoft frustrates users' ability to download alternative browsers. Opera didn't hold back, it has accused Microsoft of using design tactics and dark patterns to steer users away from other browsers. These points are likely in reference to Edge trying to dissuade users from downloading other browsers when a user searches for them on Edge/Bing. Windows also loves to shove reminders, recommendations, etc., to promote Edge as the default browser on Windows 11, if users were using a third-party browser as their preferred choice.
Opera has asked CADE to investigate Microsoft to ensure fair competition among browsers. Well, if it is found guilty of breaching antitrust laws, Microsoft has only itself to blame.
In June 2024, Opera filed a lawsuit against the European Commission for exempting Microsoft Edge from the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the case is still in progress. Last month, Microsoft announced some important changes, one of which said that it would no longer prompt users in Europe to set Edge as the default browser (if it remained unused). Opera is also a member of the Browser Choice Alliance, the others being Chrome, Vivaldi, Waterfox and Wavebox. The coalition had requested the European Commission to list Microsoft Edge as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act.
Opera had filed a similar antitrust complaint about Internet Explorer in Europe in 2007. As a result, Microsoft was fined $648 Million (561M Euros) for breaching antitrust laws.
EDIT: I had previously written that Opera had lost its case against the EC. Opera reached out to me to point out that the lawsuit is in progress.
Go get'em Opera!
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