The FTC launches an antitrust probe into Microsoft, targeting cloud, AI, and cybersecurity.

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The Federal Trade Commission has launched a sweeping antitrust investigation into Microsoft. The focus? Allegations of anti-competitive practices in its cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity businesses. The investigation highlights concerns about Microsoft leveraging its market dominance to stifle competition and harm consumers.

Competitors have raised serious complaints, accusing Microsoft of punitive licensing terms and bundling its software with its Azure cloud services. These tactics allegedly lock customers into Microsoft’s ecosystem, limiting their choices and driving rivals out of key markets.

FTC Chair Lina Khan pointed to the potential economic impact of Microsoft’s practices, stating that the “concentrated nature of the cloud market” creates vulnerabilities that could cascade across industries if outages or disruptions occur. This investigation aims to determine if Microsoft’s strategies are unfairly distorting the market.

The FTC has sent detailed inquiries to Microsoft and plans to meet with competitors to deepen its probe. Microsoft’s immense role in cloud and AI technologies places the company at the center of one of the most consequential antitrust cases in recent years.

As the investigation unfolds, its outcome could reshape the tech landscape. If the FTC finds Microsoft guilty of anti-competitive behavior, the consequences could include massive fines, forced divestitures, or new regulations aimed at curbing its influence. For now, the tech giant faces intensified scrutiny over how it wields its power in some of the most critical sectors of the modern economy.

🚨BREAKING: FTC GOES AFTER MICROSOFT WITH ANTITRUST PROBE

The FTC has just launched a massive investigation into Microsoft’s business moves, demanding info from the tech titan.

Microsoft, already a big player in AI through its partnerships with OpenAI and Copilot, is no… pic.twitter.com/629vq48T7j

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) November 27, 2024