EU investigates browser blocking in Windows 8

European Union competition authorities to investigate whether Microsoft is blocking alternative browsers in Windows 8. The investigation follows complaints from various browser builders and is part of a larger investigation.

The larger investigation focuses on the fact that Microsoft no longer offers users the choice of which browsers they want to set as their default when setting up Windows. That went wrong with a service pack for Windows 7, Microsoft says.

However, the problem with Windows 8 isn’t that users can’t set a browser as the default, but that browser builders feel they don’t have an opportunity to create competing browsers. writes Reuters news agency. It is unknown which browser makers have complained, but at least Mozilla and Google will be among them. Both companies spoke out this spring strongly against the way in which Microsoft blocks access to some APIs in Windows 8. Browser builders also fear that the installation of browser on Windows RT, the version for ARM chips, has been blocked entirely.

It is unclear when the competition authorities will complete their investigation. Usually, such investigations take months to years. In addition, the EU will likely try to get Microsoft to address the concerns by granting access to the APIs.