Swiss regulator probes Google over vanished Android choice screen
Switzerland’s competition watchdog has opened an investigation after Google quietly removed an Android search choice screen, highlighting the regulatory gap created by the country's absence from EU tech rules.
Switzerland’s Competition Commission has opened a preliminary investigation into Google after a search engine selection prompt disappeared from new Android phones in the country. The feature, which asks users to pick a default search engine during device setup, remains active in the European Economic Area. As a result, Swiss buyers now receive Google Search as their default without being prompted to consider alternatives.
COMCO argued that removing the screen “creates an unequal treatment between Swiss users and those in the European Economic Area”. The regulator warned that the change “could limit the visibility of search engines competing with Google during device set-up, thereby raising barriers to market entry”.
Default settings dictate user behavior in digital markets, and Google holds roughly 82% of the Swiss search market, according to Statcounter. However, rival DuckDuckGo saw its installs jump 18% after Google recently integrated AI summaries into its results page, suggesting users will switch when presented with a clear alternative at the right moment.
The choice screen is a direct product of European Union regulation. It stems from a 2018 EU antitrust case that resulted in a €4.1bn fine against Google, and is currently enforced through the Digital Markets Act. Because Switzerland is outside the EEA, these Brussels-mandated rules do not apply, leaving Google free to alter its product without triggering EU-level gatekeeper obligations.
This regulatory gap forces Swiss authorities to police digital markets using slower, domestic tools. While the European Commission is already preparing to force Google to open Android to rival AI assistants and share search data, COMCO must rely on its general Cartel Act to prove abuse of dominance.
The current Swiss probe is a preliminary investigation, known locally as a Vorabklärung. It carries no presumption of wrongdoing, charges, or deadlines, serving only to establish if there are indications of an unlawful restriction of competition. COMCO noted that its findings could influence how default settings are assessed on other mobile devices, a statement that carries implications for hardware makers beyond Google. A spokesperson for Google said the company is aware of the case and “look[s] forward to cooperating fully with the authority to address their questions.”
