The antitrust regulator set an August 15 deadline for Microsoft to respond to Opera's allegations.
Brazil's antitrust authority, CADE (Administrative Council for Economic Defense), has launched an investigation into Microsoft after a formal complaint was lodged by Norwegian browser company Opera.
The complaint, filed on Tuesday, alleges that Microsoft is leveraging its dominant position by pre-installing its Edge browser as the default on Windows devices - limiting fair competition in the browser market.
CADE confirmed the opening of an administrative inquiry in a statement published late Thursday. Microsoft now has until August 15 to respond to the allegations, which pertain not only to the Windows operating system licenses but also to its Microsoft 365 suite and Jumpstart AI programme.
"The struggle for digital freedom is global, and we are taking this step on behalf of millions of Brazilian users who don't get a real choice,"
said Aaron McParlan, General Advisor at Opera.
Opera asked CADE to investigate Microsoft's practices and implement solutions to ensure fair competition that would benefit Brazilian internet users. The solutions include allowing PC manufacturers to load competing browsers and making them a default browser, requiring a clear and unbiased browser selection screen for all Windows users in Brazil, and ending a manipulative design that hinders consumer freedom.
This is not the first time Opera has challenged Microsoft's browser practices.
The company first raised similar concerns back in 2007, targeting Microsoft's then-default browser, Internet Explorer. That episode led to a historic 561 million euros ($640 million) antitrust fine by the European Commission in 2013.
Source: Reuters
