Redmond, Washington – Microsoft is facing an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission amid concerns of potential antitrust violations. This marks the fifth major tech company to come under such scrutiny in recent years, as authorities examine Microsoft’s cloud services, software licensing business, cybersecurity offerings, and artificial intelligence products. The probe, which has been underway for over a year, follows extensive information requests spanning hundreds of pages from Microsoft’s competitors and partners.
The focus of the investigation includes Microsoft’s bundling of productivity and security software with its Azure cloud services. This scrutiny has intensified following security incidents affecting Microsoft products, especially given the company’s significant role as a software supplier to US government agencies. Both Microsoft and the FTC have refrained from commenting on the ongoing investigation.
Earlier this year, the government’s Cyber Safety Review Board highlighted deficiencies in Microsoft’s security culture and called for significant improvements, given the company’s crucial position in the technology sector. In response, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella emphasized the paramount importance of security in all operations, prioritizing it over other considerations.
If the FTC were to pursue legal action against Microsoft, it would echo past antitrust battles the company faced in the 1990s over bundling its web browser and Windows operating system. Despite mostly avoiding antitrust scrutiny in recent years, unlike Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Google, Microsoft may face a new landscape with a changing political environment. The upcoming change in leadership at the FTC, with President-elect Donald Trump set to appoint new commissioners who may continue the probe, suggests potential challenges ahead for the tech giant.