Access the press release here.
Switzerland’s Competition Commission (COMCO) has opened a preliminary antitrust investigation into Google following the removal of the option for Android users to select their default search engine during device setup.
COMCO reports that Google recently removed its “Choice Screen” feature in Switzerland, while it remains available in the European Economic Area (EEA). As a result, Google Search is now set as the default search engine for Swiss users when they set up a new Android phone.
Why are regulators concerned? COMCO’s main argument concerns market visibility rather than search engine quality. The commission states that default settings have significant influence in digital markets and that the choice screen helps reduce lock-in caused by preset configurations. According to the regulator, removing the choice screen limits the visibility of competing search engines during device setup and may increase barriers for rivals.
COMCO also identified a fairness gap between jurisdictions. Removing the screen only in Switzerland results in unequal treatment compared to users in the neighboring European Economic Area, even though the competitive concerns are similar on both sides of the border.
Google’s market position in Switzerland and its response: Google’s dominance in the Swiss search market has increased scrutiny. The company holds an 82% market share in Switzerland, according to web analytics firm Statcounter.
COMCO’s investigation is conducted under Switzerland’s Cartel Act, which allows the commission to impose administrative fines of up to 10% of a company’s Swiss turnover from the previous three years if a formal violation is found. The current inquiry is preliminary and will assess whether sufficient evidence exists to open formal proceedings, rather than determining whether Google broke the law. A Google spokesperson confirmed the company is aware of the probe and will cooperate with COMCO’s inquiries.
Broader context: This case places Switzerland among several jurisdictions examining Google’s default-setting practices. It follows a separate, larger action in the European Union, where earlier this month the EU’s top court upheld a €4.1 billion ($4.7 billion) fine against Google for anti-competitive conduct. Regulators had accused Google of using Android’s popularity to pressure phone manufacturers to pre-install Google Search and Chrome, thereby sidelining rival services. Switzerland is not a member of the EU or the EEA and sets its own competition rules independently of Brussels. As a result, COMCO is conducting its own inquiry rather than relying on the EU’s findings.
Parallel scrutiny in other jurisdictions: The Swiss inquiry reflects a broader trend of regulators reviewing Google’s influence over defaults and distribution.
- In the United States, Google is appealing a federal court ruling in its search-monopoly case, while the Department of…
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