Search Engine DuckDuckGo Wants Fresh EU Probes Into Google

Alphabet's Google should face ditional EU investigations into its compliance with landmark European Union rules aimed at reining in Big Tech's power, rival internet search engine DuckDuckGo said on Wednesday.

Under EU's Digital Markets Act opted in 2022, Google and six or tech companies are required to make it easier for users to switch to rival services and banned from favouring ir products on ir platforms, among or obligations.

world's most popular internet search engine is alrey target of two DMA investigations related to its app store Google Play rules and wher it discriminates against third-party services on Google search results.

Privacy-focused DuckDuckGo, which h a global market share of 0.54 per cent in January this year, according to research company Statista, urged European Commission to open three ditional investigations into Google's alleged non-compliance with or DMA requirements.

" DMA has yet to achieve its full potential, search market in EU has seen little movement, and we believe launching formal investigations is only way to force Google into compliance," Kamyl Bazbaz, DuckDuckGo's vice-president for communications, wrote in a blog post.

Google has said it expects to continue its compliance solutions within framework of DMA, citing its continued efforts to improve contestability and fairness in digital markets.

Bazbaz said one investigation should target Google's proposal to license anonymised search data to rivals directed at European users, saying method was overboard and of little use to competitors.

"Google is trying to avoid its legal obligation in name of privacy, which is ironic coming from Internet's biggest tracker," Bazbaz said. He said Google should also be investigated for allegedly failing to comply with DMA obligations to allow users to easily switch to rival search engines.

DMA breaches can cost companies as much as 10% of ir global annual turnover.