US FTC investigating Microsoft for potential antitrust violations, focusing on software licensing and cloud computing

From Investing.com: 2024-11-27 17:45:33

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is investigating Microsoft for potential antitrust violations, focusing on its software licensing and cloud computing businesses. The probe was approved by outgoing FTC Chair Lina Khan, with uncertainty over the outcome due to potential changes under a new Republican administration.

Allegations include Microsoft abusing market power by imposing punitive licensing terms to prevent data migration from Azure to other platforms. The investigation also covers cybersecurity and AI products. Microsoft has not commented on the matter, but complaints were raised by NetChoice, a lobbying group representing online companies competing with Microsoft in cloud computing.

The FTC has requested detailed information from Microsoft following complaints and concerns over its licensing policies and AI integration. Microsoft has been an exception among Big Tech companies facing antitrust scrutiny, with Facebook, Apple, Amazon, and Google all accused of maintaining monopolies.

It remains unclear how the new administration will approach Big Tech regulation, with incoming vice president JD Vance expressing concerns about their influence. Microsoft, however, has benefited from past policies, such as winning a $10 billion cloud computing contract from the Pentagon in 2019 over Amazon, which later alleged improper pressure from Trump.



Read more at Investing.com: Microsoft faces wide-ranging US antitrust probe By Reuters