Microsoft’s Edge and Bing gets a pass (For Now) on Europe’s big tech rules

Remember that new law in Europe meant to stop big tech companies like Google and Apple from playing favorites with their own products? Well, it looks like Microsofts Edge and Bing might be slipping through the cracks.

Here’s the deal: Europe passed this “Digital Markets Act” (DMA) to make sure everyone plays fair online. It’s like a referee for the tech playground, stopping the big kids from hogging all the toys. But guess what? Bing, Microsoft’s search engine, is practically invisible in Europe compared to Google, so the DMA might not even apply. Same goes for their Edge browser – it’s gaining ground, but not enough to raise any red flags yet.

This doesn’t mean Microsoft gets to party forever, though. They still have to follow the general rules of the game, especially when it comes to their popular Windows operating system. Think of Windows as the school computer lab – everyone should have a choice which browser and search engine to use, not just Microsoft’s picks.

So, what does this all mean? Some folks think it weakens the whole law, letting big companies off the hook. Others say it’s smart to focus on the biggest bullies first, not pick on everyone.

The final score on this game is still up in the air. But one thing’s for sure: even if Microsoft gets a temporary pass, they’ll still have to play nice in Europe’s digital sandbox. Fair competition and giving users options are the name of the game, and nobody gets to break the rules, not even the tech giants.