越界:使用设计策略来破坏浏览器的选择
Over the edge: The use of design tactics to undermine browser choice

原始链接: https://research.mozilla.org/browser-competition/over-the-edge-the-use-of-design-tactics-to-undermine-browser-choice/

Mozilla 进行的互联网健康报告揭示了 Microsoft 的设计技术如何对浏览器选择产生负面影响,可能会损害竞争对手浏览器供应商之间的反竞争行为。 尽管微软声称在选择网络浏览器(包括其自己的 Microsoft Edge)时提供平等的选择机会,但这种努力与该公司之前的设计原则相矛盾。 具体来说,将 Edge 置于 Windows 的最前沿并将其性能优先于竞争对手,违反了基本的公平规则。 这种行为可能会对消费者和市场竞争造成重大损害。 因此,Mozilla 呼吁立即改进以消除这些做法,并特别指出在美国等某些地区的改进存在局限性(仅实施了部分措施),从而使全球用户遭受持续的伤害。 微软最近承诺停止针对非微软浏览器的具体反制措施,这解决了一些问题,但并没有在全球范围内完全解决这个问题。 为了促进浏览器的选择,监管机构需要强制实施变革,特别是在缺乏此类要求的司法管辖区。 因此,读者应订阅 Mozilla Labs 时事通讯,了解旨在促进技术创新和产品进步的持续研究进展。 注意:订阅之前,请通过电子邮件确认确认任何当前订阅。

根据上面的段落,有些人似乎更喜欢使用 Microsoft Edge 而不是 Firefox 等其他流行浏览器,主要是因为 Edge 独有的某些理想功能。 然而,由于其可疑的做法,许多人在使用微软浏览器时感到不舒服,但最终决定容忍这些方面,转而利用浏览器的积极属性。 此外,对第三方参与者(尤其是本例中的 Mozilla)可信度的担忧仍然存在,因为如果受到与 Google 的潜在妥协关系的影响,一些人可能会怀疑其调查结果的可信度和客观性。 尽管如此,仍然存在替代解决方案来规避其中一些令人不满意的元素,特别是如前所述,例如通过 Windows 组策略限制无根据的默认应用程序设置以及确保浏览器中的全文书签功能。
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原文

In order to be able to choose their own browser, people must be free to download it, easily set it to default and to continue using it – all without interference from the operating system. Windows users do not currently enjoy this freedom of choice.

To investigate Microsoft’s tactics and the impact on consumers, Mozilla commissioned Harry Brignull and Cennydd Bowles, independent researchers and experts in harmful design. Today, the researchers have published a report detailing how Microsoft prevents effective browser choice on Windows. In the report, they document how Microsoft places its own browser — Edge — at the center of its operating system and weaponizes Windows’ user interface design to undermine people selecting rival browsers.

In some cases, the use of harmful design tactics is contrary to Microsoft’s own design guidelines. In many cases, it can lead to (and exacerbate) consumer harm and undermine competition from rival browsers. This kind of behavior is particularly concerning for an independent browser like Firefox, which is reliant on the operating systems provided by companies who are also rival browser vendors.

Self-preferencing from operating system/browser providers is an area Mozilla has previously highlighted, for example, in the Five Walled Gardens report. Recently, details of many issues Mozilla experiences competing on major operating systems were published on the Platform Tilt dashboard.

Now, with the implementation of the Digital Markets Act in the European Union marking the start of a wave of global competition regulation, we hoped that the barriers to browser competition would be dismantled. However, even where there is movement in the right direction, improvements have been incomplete and are grudgingly offered only in markets where regulators have forced platform owners to make changes to respect browser choice. For example, Apple’s decision to allow alternative browser engines is only effective in the EU.

Similarly, Microsoft recently pledged to stop some of the actions it takes to force Edge on users who have selected other browsers. Unfortunately, these changes only address a small number of the tactics outlined in this report. And, to make matters worse, they will only be deployed to users in the EEA.

Windows users everywhere, especially in the rest of the world, continue to have their choices inhibited, overridden and undermined by Microsoft’s use of harmful design. Regulatory action around the world is needed to restore browser choice and competition across all of the major platforms.

Download the full report (PDF, 5MB)

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