Google, which is owned by Alphabet, should face additional EU investigations over its compliance with landmark European Union rules aimed at curbing the power of Big Tech, rival internet search engine DuckDuckGo said on Wednesday .
Under the EU’s Digital Markets Act passed in 2022, Google and six other tech companies are required to make it easier for users to switch to competing services and not favor their products on their platforms, among other obligations.
The world’s most popular internet search engine is already the subject of two DMA investigations over the rules of its Google Play app store and discrimination against third-party services in Google’s search results.
Privacy-minded DuckDuckGo, which had a global market share of 0.54% in January this year, according to research firm Statista, has asked the European Commission to open three additional investigations on Google’s alleged non-compliance with other requirements of the financial markets regulator.
“The DMA has not yet reached its full potential, the EU search market has evolved little, and we believe that launching formal investigations is the only way to force Google to comply.” writes Kamyl Bazbaz, DuckDuckGo vice president of communications, in a blog post.
Google said it plans to pursue compliance solutions under the DMA, citing its ongoing efforts to improve contestability and fairness in digital markets.
Mr Bazbaz said an investigation should target Google’s proposal to license anonymized search data to rivals targeting European users, saying the method was too broad and of little use to competitors.
“Google is trying to evade its legal obligations in the name of privacy, which is ironic coming from the Internet’s biggest tracker,” Bazbaz said.
He added that Google should also be investigated for failing to meet DMA obligations to allow users to easily switch to competing search engines.
Violations of the DMA can cost businesses up to 10% of their overall annual turnover.
The search engine market stifles innovation and competition. How does Google respond to these claims, and what measures are in place to support innovative solutions from new entrants in the market? Furthermore, can you address the concerns regarding potential bias in search results, particularly in the context of ensuring fairness for all competitors?
1. Guest 1: Martha Smith, Head of Legal Affairs at Google
Website Editor: Hello Martha, thanks for joining us today. Our first question is about the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Google’s compliance with it. As a representative from Google, how do you view the suggestions made by DuckDuckGo for additional investigations? Do you think Google has been fully complying with the DMA, and what challenges, if any, has the company faced in meeting these obligations?
2. Guest 2: Greg Thompson, CEO of DuckDuckGo
Website Editor: Hello Greg, thanks for taking the time to speak with us. You’ve recently called for additional investigations into Google’s compliance with the DMA. Can you elaborate on why you think more investigations are necessary, and how do you see the current state of competition in the European search engine market? Additionally, what do you think needs to change to create a level playing field for smaller players like DuckDuckGo?
3. Guest 1: Martha Smith, Head of Legal Affairs at Google
Website Editor: Martha, you mentioned that Google is working towards compliance with the DMA. Can you provide some specific examples of these efforts? How is Google ensuring that users have the ability to easily switch to competing search engines? Furthermore, what does Google think about the criticism regarding its proposal to license anonymized search data to rivals? Do you see this as a viable solution for smaller players to gain access to user information?
4. Guest 2: Greg Thompson, CEO of DuckDuckGo
Website Editor: Greg, DuckDuckGo’s main concern appears to be around user privacy. Can you discuss the importance of privacy in the digital age and why consumers should be concerned about the potential for large tech companies like Google to track their online activity? Additionally, how does DuckDuckGo ensure that user privacy is protected while still providing relevant search results? What steps are you taking to stay ahead of potential threats to user privacy in the future?
5. Guest 1: Martha Smith, Head of Legal Affairs at Google
Website Editor: Martha, there’s been some criticism that Google’s dominance in
