Google has officially responded to the fact that Microsoft Bing imitates its search engine interface to fool users. The company describes this action as “baseness” and Microsoft has, in part, backtracked.
A few days ago, we reported that Microsoft was using an unflattering strategy to keep users on Bing and avoid seeing them leave for Google. This consists of imitating the Google interface when users type “Google” on Bing to make them believe that they are already on the right search engine.
Parisa Tabriz, director of Google Chrome, reacted on X (Twitter) to this practice of her competitor. “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but Microsoft’s spoofing of Google’s home page is another tactic in its long history of ploys to confuse users and limit choice. New year, new level of lowliness, Microsoft”she published on the social network.
Microsoft backpedals, but not yet completely
Did a Google executive’s public comments have any effect on Microsoft? In any case, it seems that Bing displays this interface copying that of Google less often. Windows Central found that it was now offered in a smaller number of scenarios. We have carried out tests ourselves, and can confirm that there is a priori only a situation in which Bing always seeks to imitate Google to deceive users.
On the Bing browser, you must open a window in Inprivate mode (the equivalent of Incognito mode) and not be connected to your Microsoft account to see the famous interface. A few days ago, it was enough just not to be connected to your account, without having to go through Inprivate mode. On Chrome, we couldn’t get Bing’s copy of Google to display at all.
Microsoft seeks to limit Google’s dominance, at least over its own ecosystem. In December 2024, Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, declared that “Google makes more money from Windows than all of Microsoft” thanks to its omnipotence on web search.
Source : Windows Central
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