Switzerland’s Competition Commission (COMCO) said Tuesday it has launched a preliminary investigation into Google’s decision to remove a feature that let Android users pick their default search engine when setting up a new device.
The so-called “Choice Screen” had allowed Swiss users to select a preferred search engine during the initial setup of new Android phones and tablets. COMCO said Google recently withdrew that feature in Switzerland specifically, even though it remains in place in the European Economic Area and the UK, meaning Google Search is now set automatically as the default for new Android devices sold in the country without offering users an alternative at setup.
The commission said default settings carry significant weight in digital markets, since a missing choice screen limits the visibility of Google’s rivals precisely at the moment users are configuring their devices, potentially raising barriers for competing search engines to gain users. COMCO said it is examining whether the change amounts to an unlawful restriction on competition under Switzerland’s Cartel Act, adding that any findings could carry implications for other pre-installed services on mobile devices beyond search.
A Google spokesperson said the company was aware of the investigation and looks forward to cooperating fully with the authority to address its questions.
Google introduced the choice screen across the EEA, UK and Switzerland following the European Commission’s 2018 antitrust ruling against Android, and had operated the Swiss version of the screen since November 2021. The case adds to a broader wave of European scrutiny of Google’s control over Android default settings, with COMCO noting it has separately concluded several other digital-market enforcement actions in recent months. This is only a preliminary inquiry, not a formal investigation, and no timeline for a decision has been set.
