Microsoft’s troubles intensify in America, FTC starts investigation into distrust

New Delhi| The US Trade Commission (FTC) has launched a major investigation against Microsoft. Within its scope are software licensing and cloud computing business methods. The investigation was approved by FTC chairperson Leena Khan, who is likely to step down in January. There is uncertainty about the investigation after Donald Trump was elected President, because Trump may appoint a soft-spoken person for business. The company also benefited a lot during his previous tenure.

The FTC is investigating whether Microsoft is abusing the power of its software market. It is alleged that the company is making it difficult to transfer customer data from cloud platform Azure to other platforms. Apart from this, Microsoft’s methods related to cyber security and AI products are also under FTC investigation. In this case, rivals allege that the company forces customers to stick with Azure through its licensing rules.

According to Bloomberg report, FTC has sought many information from the company. This includes its $650 million deal with AI startup Inflection AI. The investigating agency is already investigating Microsoft and Open AI to see if they are harming AI competition.

According to Andrey Barlow, a lawyer at Doyle Barlow & Mazard, the firm that provides legal services on antitrust, the Trump administration strictly enforced antitrust laws. He told that it filed cases against companies like Google and Facebook. He says that changing the administration does not always end the ongoing investigations, priorities can definitely change.