FTC to investigate Microsofts cloud unit on antitrust concerns in last hurrah under Biden
The Federal Trade Commission is readying an investigation into Microsoft’s cloud-computing business as its full-throttle approach to antitrust continues in the final weeks of the Biden administration, according to a report.The agency led by Chair Lina Khan is looking into claims that the company is abusing its market clout by enforcing terms that prevent users from moving their data from its Azure service to other cloud-computing software, people with direct knowledge of the matter told the Financial Times.Microsoft has allegedly been hiking subscription fees for those that are leaving the platform, charging sky-high exit fees and making its Office 365 products incompatible with other cloud services, the report said. The regulatory agency has yet to request documents or information from Microsoft, sources told the Financial Times.The FTC and Microsoft declined to comment.The planned investigation is just the FTC’s latest crackdown on Big Tech under Khan, though “she will be fired soon,” according to Trump ally and billionaire X owner Elon Musk.Khan has led a tough regime at the helm of the FTC since President Joe Biden appointed her in 2021.During her tenure, the agency has killed mergers at Nvidia and Lockheed Martin and accused Meta of operating as a monopoly.The commission has fought to block Microsoft’s $69 billion deal with video game maker Activision Blizzard and grocery store Kroger’s planned $25 billion merger with Albertsons. Republicans have taken issue with Khan’s aggressive approach on top Silicon Valley companies.
President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to curb the “regulatory onslaught” from government agencies like the FTC.In November 2023, after seeking input from business bigwigs and academics, the FTC published findings on competition and security practices in the cloud computing industry. And the report cited many of the same grievances allegedly being committed by Microsoft: hefty exit fees, software licensing practices that ...