On Wednesday, Google faced increased scrutiny as DuckDuckGo, the privacy-focused search engine, called for further investigations into the tech giant’s adherence to the European Union’s groundbreaking regulations aimed at curbing the power of Big Tech companies. DuckDuckGo, which holds a modest market share globally, has raised concerns that Google may not be fully complying with the obligations set forth under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The request, made by DuckDuckGo through a formal appeal to the European Commission, urges the launch of three additional probes into Google’s practices. The company, along with six other major tech players, is required by the DMA to make it easier for users to switch to competing services. The regulations also prohibit Google and other companies from giving preferential treatment to their own products and services, ensuring that competitors have a fair chance in the market.
The Digital Markets Act, which came into force in 2022, is part of the EU’s effort to reign in the monopolistic behavior of tech giants, creating a more competitive digital market. Among its provisions, the DMA compels companies like Google to provide users with greater flexibility in choosing their preferred services and disallows any anti-competitive practices such as self-preferencing, where a company’s own services are unfairly promoted over rivals.
DuckDuckGo’s call for new investigations highlights the growing concerns about whether Google is fully meeting these commitments. As Google is one of the most dominant tech companies globally, its adherence to the DMA could set important precedents for how other companies in the tech industry must comply with the new rules. The European Commission’s response to these calls for investigation will be closely watched, as it could have wide-reaching implications for digital market regulations across the EU.