Microsoft starts rollout of Windows DMA compliance changes in Europe - gHacks Tech News
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Microsoft has started the rollout of Digital Markets Act changes in its Windows 10 and 11 operating systems for users from the European Economic Area.

These changes are only applicable to users in the EEA. For those outside the region, Windows will continue to function as it is!

The changes to Windows for DMA-compliance include:

  • You can now uninstall Edge and Bing web search using the built-in settings. Earlier, the option was greyed out.
  • Third-party web search application developers can now utilize the Windows search box in the taskbar using the instructions provided by Microsoft and choose any web browser to show results from the web.
  • Microsoft will no longer sign-in users to Edge, Bing, and Microsoft Start services during the initial Windows setup experience.
  • Data collected about the functioning of non-Microsoft apps, primarily bug detection and its effects on the OS, from Windows PCs will not be used for competitive purposes.
  • Microsoft, from now on, will need explicit user consent before combining data from the OS and other sources. It will also deliver new consent screens where required.
    • MP3Martin@programming.devEnglish
      281·
      8 months ago

      The Internet Explorer system stuff is still there, the difference is that when it launches as a normal browser, it automatically opens Edge instead of IE. (iirc)

      • lud@lemm.eeEnglish
        17·
        8 months ago

        Yeah, internet explorer is integrated deeply in places you wouldn’t expect.

        • helenslunch@feddit.nlEnglish
          52·
          8 months ago

          Which is entirely unnecessary and done explicitly so they can pretend it is essential to the operation of the machine.

          • lud@lemm.eeEnglish
            41·
            8 months ago

            Nah, mostly it’s just done stupidly many many years ago but MS being MS wants backwards compatibility.

            Even MMC needs internet explorer for some stupid reason. It uses it to show HTML files or some shit.

          • fishos@lemmy.worldEnglish
            13·
            8 months ago

            No, it’s because IE was just a modified File Explorer to begin with. It was never its own independent software, but something cobbled together from already existing code. It’s these constant dependencies that are the problem due to laziness and bad practice.

            Look into League of Legends and how Skarner and Minions are a structurally important part of the games entire code for another example.

    • OfficerBribe@lemm.eeEnglish
      212·
      8 months ago

      It is, specifically MS Edge WebView. For example new MS Teams and new Outlook client are using WebView. Widgets are using it as well as do many other things.

      This uninstall will most likely still keep Edge present, it will just be somehow hidden / not as easily accessible.