FTC Probes Microsoft Cloud Practices

The Federal Trade Commission has reportedly launched an investigation into Microsoft’s cloud business practices, examining potential antitrust concerns

According to reports, the Federal Trade Commission is initiating an inquiry into whether Microsoft employed anti-competitive strategies to preserve its dominant position in the cloud market.

The agency is investigating allegations that Microsoft implemented punitive licensing agreements to impede customers from migrating data off its platforms, according to the Financial Times.

The FTC is also investigating allegations that Microsoft increased subscription fees for customers who wanted to leave, made its products incompatible with competitors, and charged steep exit fees, according to sources who spoke with FT.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) solicited public input regarding the business practices of significant cloud providers last year.

Most commenters identified restrictive software licensing, high data transfer fees, and minimum expenditure contracts as areas of anticompetitive concern.

The extent of the FTC’s investigation remains uncertain. Lina Khan’s tenure as FTC chair may conclude with the commencement of Donald Trump’s presidency, and Trump is generally regarded as advocating for deregulation.