Buzz
Following the European Commission's antitrust ruling against Google last March, the American tech giant is compelled to offer European Union Android users more search engine options. As part of the plan, individuals in the region will be able to select their default search engine from at least four options when setting up their Android device for the first time starting March 1st.
DuckDuckGo emerges victorious over Bing as the primary alternative to Google on Android in Europe
- Get DuckDuckGo for Android.
- Get DuckDuckGo for iPhone.
Clearly, one of the options will be Google, and the other options will vary from country to country based on the amount search service providers are willing to pay Google for what's called the 'Choice Screen' - a list of options designed with the guidance of the European Commission, and this screen will be displayed to Android phone users in the region when they set up their device for the first time.
Now, the search service provider with the highest 'bid' has been announced, Microsoft's Bing seems to have lost out to an independent service, focusing on privacy called DuckDuckGo. This search engine has carved out a niche for itself in the online community concerned about their online privacy. According to the official list, DuckDuckGo will be the choice in all EU countries, while Bing will clearly be absent. The only place in Europe where Microsoft's search engine will be provided is the United Kingdom. Here, DuckDuckGo and Info.com will be other third-party options. You can visit the official Android blog to see the full list or learn more about the Choice Screen.
What's noteworthy here is Ecosia, a search engine operated by an environmental advocacy group that claims to plant trees worldwide with its search profits, has boycotted the entire auction process, stating that Google's actions are 'inconsistent with the spirit of the EU Commission's ruling in July 2018'. In a press release, CEO and founder Christian Kroll continued to say that the company will file a formal complaint with EU lawmakers to challenge the US tech giant.
There are plenty of search engines available beyond Google and DuckDuckGo, check out the top Google alternative search engines here.
