Microsoft faces scrutiny over Windows leveraging for Edge and Bing

Microsoft has faced scrutiny regarding its use of the Windows operating system to promote its own services. In its annual 10-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the company stated it intends to leverage Windows to “fuel our cloud business, grow our share of the PC market, and drive increased engagement with our services like Microsoft Edge, Bing, Copilot, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft 365 Consumer, XBOX Game Pass, and more.”

This admission has raised concerns regarding self-preferencing and antitrust compliance. Complementing these regulatory concerns, a survey by the Browser Choice Alliance—an organization including competitors like Chrome, Vivaldi, and Opera—indicates that users find it difficult to switch default browsers on Windows 11.

The survey of 2,000 adults in the United States found that 72 percent of participants who attempted to change their default browser in the last two years encountered challenges, such as links opening in Edge despite other settings. Additionally, 29 percent of respondents claimed that Windows system updates contributed to their browser preferences being changed or reset.