Mozilla has called out Apple, Google and Microsoft, accusing that their operating systems make it very difficult for browsers like open-source Firefox to be used on the platforms they control. Mozilla said that these operating systems make it difficult or impossible for a consumer to switch browsers, by setting the company’s own browser as the default.
“There are only three main browser engine providers left: Google, Apple and Mozilla - but Apple's engine only runs on Apple devices. So, without Mozilla, the only cross-platform browser engine would be provided by Google. Putting the development of cross-platform web browsers in the hands of a single company creates not only a concentration of power, but also a single point of failure,” the report added.
Further, in the report, Mozilla says that operating systems are incentivized to prefer their own browsers at the expense of consumer choice and independent alternatives. After all, Google develops Android, Apple makes iOS and macOS, and Microsoft makes Windows. It accuses Apple of complexing the steps to changing the default browser on iOS 14.
The report further states, “There is no specific menu where a user can select their default browser; instead they must click on a browser within the settings menu and then select the option to change the default browser within the list of options for amending that particular browser’s settings.”
Mozilla said that as Big Tech has so far failed to do better, “regulators, policymakers and lawmakers have spent considerable time and resources investigating digital markets”.
“They should, therefore, be in a good position to recognise the importance of browser competition and to act to prevent further harm to consumers from continued inaction and competitive stagnation,” the company said.
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