Microsoft could be set for another antitrust battle, this time focused on cloud and AI
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating Microsoft over antitrust issues, according to sources cited in multiple reports.
While the reports suggest the FTC is examining multiple facets of Microsoft’s business, including AI, Office, and security, the focus appears to be cloud computing and how its Azure services are bundled with its other products and services.
According to the New York Times, the FTC has formally requested information about Microsoft’s cloud computing, security and AI products.
Bloomberg reports the information request runs into the hundreds of pages, with the FTC and Microsoft set to meet next week. Beyond the cloud, the reports suggest Microsoft’s AI business is coming under specific scrutiny.
Those reports follow one in the Financial Times earlier this month which suggested the FTC was set to launch an investigation specifically into Microsoft’s cloud computing business amid claims the company makes it too hard to move data from Azure to rival providers.
