Zurich: Switzerland's competition authority has initiated a preliminary investigation into Google, focusing on whether the tech giant may be hindering competition by setting its search engine as the default option on certain Android smartphones, as reported by Swissinfo.

According to Anadolu Agency, Google has recently discontinued the "Choice Screen" feature in Switzerland. This feature previously allowed users to select their preferred default search engine when configuring a new Android device. Consequently, Google Search is now automatically designated as the default search engine during the initial setup of certain mobile phones in Switzerland, without providing users with an alternative option, the authority stated.

Weko highlighted that the "Choice Screen" feature remains operational in the European Union. The authority emphasized that default settings significantly influence digital markets, and the choice screen was initially designed to mitigate the competitive advantage created by pre-selected services.

In a statement, Weko expressed concerns that the removal of this feature could limit the visibility of search engines competing with Google during device setup, thereby increasing barriers to market entry. The preliminary investigation will evaluate whether Google's practices may represent an unlawful restriction of competition under Switzerland's Cartel Act.

Weko also mentioned that the findings from this investigation could be pertinent in assessing default-setting practices on other mobile devices.