FTC Launches Antitrust Investigation Against Microsoft Over Azure, Cloud

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reopened a major antitrust investigation into Microsoft, focusing on the company's software licensing, Azure cloud technology, cybersecurity services and AI solutions.

The new trial was sparked by massive outages in Microsoft's cloud services in July 2024, which caused widespread user discontent. Competitors also accuse the company of making their work difficult with its licensing terms and product bundling.

The FTC is particularly interested in how security software integrates with Azure cloud solutions. Experts note that such complaints are not new, but each year Microsoft increases its dominance in the cloud, which is causing concern among regulators.

It's worth noting that this isn't the FTC's first investigation into Microsoft. In 2023, the commission tried to block Activision Blizzard's $70 billion acquisition, but the court sided with the company. The new case could be another test for Microsoft, whose market power continues to raise questions from antitrust authorities.