French Watchdog Rejects Qwant Complaint Against Microsoft

France’s competition watchdog has dismissed a complaint filed by local search engine Qwant, which claimed that Microsoft was using its powerful market position unfairly. The watchdog, known as the Autorité de la Concurrence, said that Qwant did not present strong or convincing evidence to support the accusations. Because of this, the authority also rejected Qwant’s request for immediate action against Microsoft.

Qwant’s complaint argued that Microsoft restricted the company’s ability to grow its own search engine business. Qwant said that Microsoft placed limits on how it could use search results and advertising tools, making it harder for Qwant to compete. The company also claimed that Microsoft gave itself an advantage in search advertising, harming the chances of smaller competitors. However, the French watchdog stated that the information provided by Qwant was not detailed or strong enough to prove any abuse of power.

Interestingly, Qwant had already predicted that its complaint might be dismissed. Before the announcement, the company shared publicly that it expected this outcome and was already preparing to take the matter to court or approach other European authorities. Qwant has relied for years on Microsoft’s Bing search engine to provide search and news results, which makes the relationship between the two companies complex.

Microsoft responded positively to the decision. A company spokesperson said that Microsoft agrees with the ruling and remains committed to offering high-quality search services. Microsoft also expressed its support for innovation and cooperation with partners and users in France and Europe. The company is a major player in the search syndication market, where it supplies search results to several smaller search engines.

Besides Qwant, several other European search engines depend on Microsoft for search results. These include Ecosia, DuckDuckGo, and Lilo. This highlights Microsoft’s strong presence in the European search ecosystem. Qwant argued that this dominance put smaller search engines at a disadvantage. Still, regulators said the complaint did not provide enough proof to justify action.

Qwant had stated that Microsoft’s business practices limited its ability to improve its own technology, including its development of search tools and artificial intelligence features. According to Qwant, Microsoft’s terms restricted independence and slowed innovation. The French watchdog, however, found no clear evidence that Microsoft forced unfair conditions on Qwant or violated competition rules.

After the decision, Qwant did not immediately comment, but earlier statements suggest the company will continue fighting. It may appeal the ruling in court or take the issue to European Union regulators, who handle competition cases across the region. For now, the French authority’s decision marks a setback for Qwant, but the dispute between the two companies is likely far from over.

The dismissal of the complaint is an important moment in the ongoing debate over competition in the European tech sector. Microsoft’s role as a major provider of search services to smaller search engines continues, while Qwant plans its next steps. The case also highlights how challenging it can be for smaller companies to compete in a market dominated by global tech giants.