{"id":78463,"date":"2025-03-06T08:32:38","date_gmt":"2025-03-06T16:32:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/?p=78463"},"modified":"2025-04-15T15:41:47","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T22:41:47","slug":"eu-digital-markets-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/firefox\/eu-digital-markets-act\/","title":{"rendered":"Browser choice? Here\u2019s how EU\u2019s DMA is helping make it real"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Too often, well-intentioned regulation misses the mark. This can be due to poor design, poor implementation, poor compliance, or failure to address unintended consequences. But the EU\u2019s Digital Markets Act (DMA) has the potential<\/em> to be different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The DMA is a regulatory framework that came into effect in the EU in March 2024. It covers a range of services, including browsers, where it empowers people in the EU to choose a browser for themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twelve months later, the verdict\u2019s in, and it proves what 98% of people told us<\/a> before the DMA even kicked in last year: People want browser choice. And when they are given real choice, they will opt for a browser that serves their needs and preferences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many EU consumers, this choice has been Firefox \u2014 an independent browser that offers the features they want in terms of privacy, safety, productivity and speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is the DMA important?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The DMA is a first-of-its-kind regulation. Its aim? Leveling the playing field so that EU consumers can discover and use products from smaller, innovative companies without being blocked by gatekeeper operating systems. In practice? When it comes to browsers, it means putting real choice in the hands of users. The desired outcome? Removing barriers to choice such as the complex device settings consumers have to navigate to change their pre-installed browser \u2014 and enabling them to keep their choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the DMA, certain operating system providers are required to prompt users to actively select their preferred default web browser through a choice screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a browser choice screen and when will I see one?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Browser choice screens are a seemingly simple solution \u2014 a menu of options listed for you to choose your preferred default browser. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first DMA browser choice screens started rolling out in the EU in March 2024. Since then, they have slowly started appearing for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n