US FTC ramps up scrutiny of Microsoft over AI, cloud practices, questions rivals, Bloomberg reports

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is intensifying its investigation into Microsoft, focusing on the company's licensing practices and its impact on competition in the AI and cloud computing sectors [1][2]. Group 1: FTC Investigation - The FTC has issued civil investigative requests to multiple competitors in the enterprise software and cloud computing markets, with at least six companies reportedly receiving these demands [2]. - The investigation aims to gather information regarding Microsoft's bundling of AI, security, and identity software within its offerings [2][3]. Group 2: Market Power Concerns - In 2024, the FTC initiated an investigation into whether Microsoft abused its market power in productivity software by imposing restrictive licensing terms that hinder customers from migrating their data to rival cloud platforms [3]. - Competitors have accused Microsoft of practices that effectively lock customers into its Azure cloud service, raising concerns about competitive fairness [3]. Group 3: Competitive Complaints - Google has lodged a complaint with the European Commission, alleging that Microsoft is leveraging its dominant Windows Server operating system to stifle competition [4].