Happy DMAnniversary
Today is the first anniversary of the Digital Markets Act coming into force in the EU, which means that, astrologically, the DMA is a Pisces.
According to Google’s AI generated search results, “Pisces are open to giving second chances and believe in the power of change”, so that might explain why Microsoft and Apple are still allowed to get away with screwing over other vendors’ browsers on Windows and iOS.
But also “Pisces are able to see beyond the surface to the truth of things”, so let’s hope the Commission listens to Vivaldi, Open Web Advocacy and the The Browser Choice Alliance so we see some actual enforcement against Big Tech in the coming months.
“Users of Windows were free to choose their preferred browsers, app stores, and software solutions before the DMA made it a requirement.” says Microsoft in its 2025 Compliance report published today.
What it really means is “You can choose your own browser. We’ll try to persuade you not to; we’ll try to scare you; we’ll try to make it difficult to make it default; we’ll nag you from widgets to return to Edge; we’ll wrap “links” in windows search and widgets in a microsoft-edge pseudo-protocol that can only be opened in our Edge browser, and we’ll try to reset your defaults every update. But you can definitely choose..”
Buy "Calling For The Moon", my debut album of songs I wrote while living in Thailand, India, Turkey. (Only £2, on Bandcamp.)