Swiss Authority Launches Investigation into Google’s Search Engine Options
Switzerland’s competition authority has initiated a preliminary inquiry into Google following the tech company’s decision to eliminate a feature that permitted users to select their default search engine during the initial setup of Android devices within the nation.
The Competition Commission, referred to by its Swiss acronym (WEKO), announced on Tuesday that it had commenced an examination to ascertain if this removal of the “Choice Screen” constitutes an unlawful infringement upon competitive practices as dictated by Swiss cartel legislation.
“Default configurations are pivotal in digital ecosystems… the removal of this feature may curtail the visibility of rival search engines during device configuration, thereby amplifying barriers to market entry,” WEKO articulated in a press release.
The Choice Screen, which was previously presented during the initial setup of new Android devices, has been withdrawn by Google in Switzerland, while it remains operational across the European Economic Area (EEA).
Divergence in Regulatory Frameworks: Switzerland’s Position
Switzerland stands apart as neither an EU nor an EEA member; thus, the provisions of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) do not extend to its borders.
The emergence of the search-choice interface was conceived as a remedial measure in the EU’s ongoing antitrust proceedings against Android: in March 2020, the European Commission reached an understanding with Google stipulating that such an option would be mandated on all new Android devices distributed to the EEA and the UK.
This was subsequently reinforced by the DMA, which obligates dominant platforms to present users with choice screens and facilitate seamless modifications to unwanted default settings.
Google was designated a gatekeeper in September 2023 and expanded its offering of choice screens in March 2024 to align with regulations.
However, no analogous obligation exists in Switzerland, and local officials had anticipated that such measures would be unnecessary.
A 2023 evaluation conducted by the Interdepartmental Coordination Group on EU Digital Policy suggested that significant foreign gatekeepers would adopt EU guidelines in Switzerland, positing that disparate treatment of the two markets would not be financially viable. Consequently, Swiss users would likely experience the benefits of the DMA in practice.
Google’s recent withdrawal of the choice screen directly challenges this presumption.
Switzerland is currently drafting a platform law. The Federal Council initiated a consultation process in October 2025 regarding the Federal Act on Communication Platforms and Search Engines, which concluded in February.
Yet, this prospective legislation will not encompass the current situation, as it mirrors the EU’s Digital Services Act rather than the DMA, addressing issues of content moderation and transparency rather than default configurations. The bill is not anticipated to reach parliamentary discussion before late 2026 or early 2027.
The initial investigation aims to discern whether sufficient grounds exist to pursue a formal competition case against Google.
Source link: Inkl.com.
