Who will win the battle for the Internet?
In Europe, the "Digital Markets Act" comes into force next year, which requires companies recognized as "gatekeepers" to provide users of the most popular operating systems with browser selection screens, asking them to choose the default browser.
Among such "gatekeepers" - Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Meta and Microsoft-the choice of browser is relevant for the operating systems iOS from Apple, Android from Google and Windows from Microsoft.
Mozilla, the maker of the Firefox browser, published a report on Thursday that argues that in order for browser selection screens to truly provide choices, rather than manipulate them, the content and interface design of the selection screen must be adapted to promote competition, rather than a specific vendor.
"At the heart of this research is the conclusion that the design details of browser selection screens are crucial," Mozilla said in a blog post. "Operating systems have the ability and incentive to direct people to their own products — this is not news. We found that even minor changes can affect the effectiveness of the browser's selection tools."
In essence, this report is a warning that regulators should be involved in the design details of websites and applications to avoid creating "dark" templates that direct users to certain choices. The report confirms the arguments put forward in an antitrust lawsuit against Google in the United States regarding the effect of default settings.
The Mozilla study surveyed 12,000 people in Germany, Poland, and Spain who used either Android or Windows. The researchers came to five conclusions:
"Google's browser selection screen showed little effect in 2019," the report says.
Microsoft made a similar observation in its April 15, 2021 letter to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission regarding the IT giant's views on screen selection.
In Europe, the "Digital Markets Act" comes into force next year, which requires companies recognized as "gatekeepers" to provide users of the most popular operating systems with browser selection screens, asking them to choose the default browser.
Among such "gatekeepers" - Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Meta and Microsoft-the choice of browser is relevant for the operating systems iOS from Apple, Android from Google and Windows from Microsoft.
Mozilla, the maker of the Firefox browser, published a report on Thursday that argues that in order for browser selection screens to truly provide choices, rather than manipulate them, the content and interface design of the selection screen must be adapted to promote competition, rather than a specific vendor.
"At the heart of this research is the conclusion that the design details of browser selection screens are crucial," Mozilla said in a blog post. "Operating systems have the ability and incentive to direct people to their own products — this is not news. We found that even minor changes can affect the effectiveness of the browser's selection tools."
In essence, this report is a warning that regulators should be involved in the design details of websites and applications to avoid creating "dark" templates that direct users to certain choices. The report confirms the arguments put forward in an antitrust lawsuit against Google in the United States regarding the effect of default settings.
The Mozilla study surveyed 12,000 people in Germany, Poland, and Spain who used either Android or Windows. The researchers came to five conclusions:
- Choice screens push people away from the main browsers and increase the share of independent browsers.
- Adding information about browsers reduces the share of major browsers and increases satisfaction, while the order in which browsers are presented significantly affects the choice.
- Showing the selection screen when using a pre-installed browser for the first time makes more people choose the default browser.
- The vast majority of respondents (98%) prefer to have a browser selection screen.
- Browser selection screens increase user satisfaction without significant delay.
"Google's browser selection screen showed little effect in 2019," the report says.
Microsoft made a similar observation in its April 15, 2021 letter to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission regarding the IT giant's views on screen selection.
