In the past decade, Microsoft has made its preference for Edge abundantly clear to anyone using a non-Microsoft browser on Windows. The company’s strong push for users to adopt Edge has come under fire, particularly from Opera, which has taken legal action against Microsoft in Brazil. Opera argues that the pre-installation of Edge on Windows gives Microsoft an unfair advantage in the browser market.
While I may not be a legal expert, it seems that pre-installing a web browser isn’t as relevant in today’s technological landscape. By 2025, many users expect to access the internet on their new devices without any hassle. Additionally, Opera boasts features like a paid VPN, suggesting that competing services could thrive if they were given equal footing.
However, Opera’s legal battle seems more justified when it comes to Microsoft’s tactics. For instance, Microsoft often resets users’ default browser settings after major updates without clear notifications, which can be frustrating. Moreover, searching for competitors’ browsers within Edge often leads users to promotional content for Edge itself.
Despite Opera’s claims of advocating for “digital freedom” on behalf of Brazilian users, this situation highlights a broader struggle between companies within the tech industry—the fight for market share. With Opera holding a mere 2 percent of the global market compared to Edge’s 5 percent, both companies face a significant challenge in competing against giants like Google Chrome and Apple Safari. Opera has requested Brazil’s competition authority, CADE, to scrutinize Microsoft’s practices and enforce regulations to promote fair competition.
This would include preventing undesirable behaviors like browser nagging and allowing the default installation of alternative browsers. Microsoft is no stranger to regulatory scrutiny; it faced numerous legal challenges over anti-competitive practices with its earlier browser, Internet Explorer.