Google has finally announced the complete list of available Alternative Search Options for Android users in the European Union. Google received a $5 billion antitrust fine from the EU a year and a half ago, penalizing the company for three practices relating to how it bundles its apps on other manufacturer’s Android phones.
Surprisingly, some of the most popular search engines like Yahoo and Bing did not walk away with the top spots. DuckDuckGo, the privacy-centred search engine, was granted the top position – which means it will be available as an alternative to Google in more countries than any other search engine.
On the other hand, Microsoft’s search engine, Bing, tied for the last place and will only be available for use in the UK. Other listed search alternatives include GMX, Yandex, Qwant, Info.com, PrivacyWall, and Givero. Yahoo remains missing from the list.
EU’s antitrust fine and Google’s response explained
The EU handed Google a record-breaking antitrust fine after investigating its practices regarding service and app bundling. Since Google features its own search engine front-and-centre on Android smartphones and tablets, the EU found Google guilty of suppressing other search engines use on the Android platform.
Google then announced that it would open an auction system to determine possible search alternatives as a solution. The company would list the top three highest bidders in each country, and whichever option the end-user chose, would pay Google the amount offered by the fourth-highest bidder.
This bidding process will repeat every four months. Even with this system in place, many search engine providers are unhappy. The search engine providers claim that Google is abusing its power and popularity. However, no matter how upset these companies were, the plan fell in line with the EU’s demands. Many search providers are playing along in hopes of gaining traction in European countries.
Google Search – Alternative Search Options
Here is the full list of Google Search engine alternatives offered in each EU country:
- Austria: DuckDuckGo, GMX, Info.com
- Belgium: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Qwant
- Bulgaria: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, PrivacyWall
- Croatia: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, PrivacyWall
- Czech Republic: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Seznam
- Denmark: DuckDuckGo, Givero, Info.com
- Estonia: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Yandex
- Finland: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Yandex
- France: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Qwant
- Germany: DuckDuckGo, GMX, Info.com
- Greece: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Qwant
- Hungary: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, PrivacyWall
- Iceland: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, PrivacyWall
- Ireland: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, PrivacyWall
- Italy: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Qwant
- Latvia: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Yandex
- Liechtenstein: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Qwant
- Lithuania: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Yandex
- Luxembourg: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Qwant
- Malta: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, PrivacyWall
- Netherlands: DuckDuckGo, GMX, Info.com
- Norway: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, PrivacyWall
- Poland: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Yandex
- Portugal: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Qwant
- Republic of Cyprus: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, PrivacyWall
- Romania: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, PrivacyWall
- Slovakia: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Seznam
- Slovenia: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, PrivacyWall
- Spain: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Qwant
- Sweden: DuckDuckGo, Info.com, PrivacyWall
- United Kingdom: Bing, DuckDuckGo, Info.com
Wrapping Up
The fine set a new record for an antitrust fine – becoming the highest penalty since the $2.7 billion antitrust fine the EU Commission fined Google back in 2017.
Google hopes to clear its name in the EU for the second time by making amends and offering users the freedom to choose whichever search engine they want to use by default.
