Here are the search engine options Android users will get in EU
Google finally announced the complete list of available search alternatives for Android users in the European Union after it earned itself a $5 billion antitrust fine nearly a year and a half ago. This info comes via The Verge, and surprisingly, some big-name search engines like Bing and Yahoo did not walk away with top spots.
Most notably, privacy-centered search engine DuckDuckGo walked away with the top position, meaning it will be available as an alternative to Google in more countries than any other search alternative. On the other hand, Microsoft’s Bing tied for last place and will only be available in the UK. Other listed options include Qwant, GMX, Yandex, Info.com, Givero, and PrivacyWall, while Yahoo is MIA from this list.
Related: Google vs the EU: Which side are you on?
Aritcle Table Of Contents
- 1 The EU’s antitrust fine and Google’s response explained
- 1.1 More posts about Google
- 1.1.1 When should you expect to receive Android 10? (Updated January 10)
- 1.1.2 Sonos sues Google, claims it and Amazon stole its speaker tech
- 1.1.3 Google builds more privacy and speech tech into Google Assistant
- 1.1.4 January security update rolls out to Pixel 4, includes December update too
- 1.1.5 Google Pixel 4a rumored to come in only one size, no XL variant
- 1.1.6 Xiaomi security cam bug shows other people’s homes (Update: Xiaomi’s response)
- 1.1.7 Will Google undermine the Pixel 4a to make the Pixel 4 look better?
- 1.1.8 Got a Pixel 4 but didn’t get December update? Expect a two in one update soon.
- 1.1.9 2020 will be a year of refinement for Android phones
- 1.1.10 A decade of Google: The most notable events from the past 10 years
- 1.1 More posts about Google
The EU’s antitrust fine and Google’s response explained
For those who don’t remember, the EU handed Google this record-breaking antitrust fine after investigating its practices regarding app and service bundling. Because it features its own search engine front and center on Android, the EU found Google guilty of suppressing search engine competition on the Android platform.
As its solution, Google announced it would open an auction system to determine possible Android search alternatives. Google would list the three highest bidders in each country, and whichever option the end-user chose would pay Google the amount offered by the fourth-highest bidder. Google will then repeat this process every four months.
The Verge
Even with this system, many search engine providers are unhappy, claiming it’s an abuse of Google’s power. But no matter how upset these companies were, this plan fell in line with the EU’s demands, and many search providers played along in hopes of gaining traction in these European countries.
Check out the full list of Google Search engine alternatives offered in each EU country below:
- 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
More posts about Google
When should you expect to receive Android 10? (Updated January 10)
Sonos sues Google, claims it and Amazon stole its speaker tech
Google builds more privacy and speech tech into Google Assistant
January security update rolls out to Pixel 4, includes December update too
Google Pixel 4a rumored to come in only one size, no XL variant
Xiaomi security cam bug shows other people’s homes (Update: Xiaomi’s response)
Will Google undermine the Pixel 4a to make the Pixel 4 look better?
Got a Pixel 4 but didn’t get December update? Expect a two in one update soon.
2020 will be a year of refinement for Android phones
A decade of Google: The most notable events from the past 10 years
