Categories: Web

Microsoft to face further fines over EU browser choice failure

Microsoft may face additional fines over its failure to properly implement a browser choice directive as instructed by the European Commission.

Since December 2009, Microsoft has been legally bound to display a browser choice screen to Windows user in Europe, allowing them to specifically select an internet browser to install.

Between February and July 2011, however, the EC has found that Microsoft failed to deliver this browser choice screen to millions of Windows 7 Service Pack 1 users.

Microsoft could be fined up to 10% of global turnover, although this severity of penalty is unlikely. The EC describes 10% as “a legal maximum, not an indication of what a possible fine would be.”

Microsoft, in a statement earlier today, said that it takes that matter “very seriously” and that it was as a result of a “technical error”. Part of that statement reads,

“Although this was the result of a technical error, we take responsibility for what happened, and we have taken steps to strengthen our internal procedures to help ensure something like this cannot happen again.”

To date, Microsoft has paid €1.6 billion in fines to the EC over the issue.

Albizu Garcia

Albizu Garcia is the Co-Founder and CEO of Gain -- a marketing technology company that automates the social media and content publishing workflow for agencies and social media managers, their clients and anyone working in teams.

Recent Posts

DARPA O-Circuit program wants drones that can smell danger with ‘a new class of biologically inspired computer’

DARPA's O-Circuit program looks to build a new class of biologically inspired computer equipped with…

1 day ago

How a ten-day bootcamp is helping students at Delhi Public School hone their AI skills 

As AI races into classrooms worldwide, Google is finding that the toughest lessons on how…

1 day ago

WEF promotes eat the bugs agenda in ‘new nature economy’ report

The push to eat bugs is not an organic movement coming from the people, but…

2 days ago

Africa’s Digital Assets Push Gets an Upgrade as ADAS Teams-Up With CEO’s Forum

As Africa’s digital economy accelerates, a new partnership between the Africa Digital Assets Summit 2026…

3 days ago

Why companies can’t afford black-box AI anymore

The State of Generative AI in the Enterprise report from Menlo Ventures found that companies…

3 days ago

From one donor, thousands of doses: Meet the startup making cell therapy accessible

Living therapies, made of engineered immune cells – and capable of hunting down cancer, reversing…

3 days ago