Key Points
- DuckDuckGo calls for expanded EU investigations regarding Google’s adherence to the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
- Google is currently under two EU DMA probes regarding app store policies and search result practices.
- DuckDuckGo criticized Google’s anonymized search data licensing proposal as overly broad and unhelpful.
- DMA violations could cost companies up to 10% of their global annual turnover; Google claims it is working to enhance fairness and compliance.
Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., is facing calls from rival search engine DuckDuckGo for expanded EU investigations regarding its adherence to the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The DMA, a landmark regulation adopted by the European Union in 2022, aims to curtail the dominance of major tech companies by requiring fair practices, including the facilitation of service switching and prohibiting preferential treatment of their products.
Google is already under two DMA investigations: one focusing on its Google Play app store policies and another examining potential discrimination against third-party services in its search results. DuckDuckGo, a privacy-focused search engine with a modest global market share of 0.54% as of January 2024, has urged the European Commission to launch three additional probes into Google’s alleged non-compliance with other DMA mandates.
In a blog post, Kamyl Bazbaz, DuckDuckGo’s Vice-President for Communications, criticized Google for its limited compliance efforts under the DMA. He argued that formal investigations are necessary to ensure Google fulfills its legal obligations and fosters a competitive search market within the EU. Bazbaz highlighted concerns over Google’s proposal to license anonymized search data to competitors. He claimed the proposal was excessively broad and ineffective, adding, “Google is trying to avoid its legal obligation in the name of privacy, which is ironic coming from the Internet’s biggest tracker.”
DuckDuckGo also alleged that Google is not complying with provisions requiring users to switch to rival search engines easily. For its part, Google has reiterated its commitment to DMA compliance, stating that it continues developing solutions to enhance fairness and competition in digital markets.
Violations of the Digital Markets Act can result in penalties as high as 10% of a company’s global annual turnover, emphasizing the financial stakes for major firms like Google. DuckDuckGo’s call for additional investigations highlights ongoing tensions in the tech industry as regulators seek to enforce rules ensuring equitable access and competition.
