The Us Federal Trade Commission is moving ahead with a sprawling antitrust probe of microsoft that was opened in the waning days of the benaling administration, signaling that Donald Trump Chairi andrew Fergon is Going to prioritize scrutiny of tech giants.
FTC Staff in Recent Weeks have Continued to work on the Investigation, Meeting With Companies and Other Groups to Gather Information, According to people family family with the matter, who aSKED not to be named found not to be name Confidential Investigation.
The FTC Sent Microsoft A So-Called Civil Investigative Demand, which is similar to a Subpoena, Late Last Year. The document, a copy of which was viewed by bloomberg, compeels the company to turn over reams of data about its Ai Operations, include the cost to train models and obtain data, going as far back as 2016. The agency Sought Details About Microsoft’s Data Centers, its Struggles to Find ENOUGGH Computing Computing Power to Meet Customer demand and the company’s software licensing practices.
The ftc is also scrutinising microsoft’s decision to slash funding Openai.
One company has heard regularly from the issue of Microsoft’s Licensing PRACTICES SINCE The Investigative Demand was Sent, said one of the people. The FTC and Lawyers for that Company Have Discussed What Information The Agency Cold Ask for in a More Comprehensive, Formal Request. The company also received a short of questions of questions several weeks ago Asking for documents the company provided to other regulators. The ftc is further seeking information about licensing rule changes microsoft said will go into effect this year, the person said.
Seeking details
The agency said in the information demand that it wants to determine wheeter microsoft’s profits from other parts of the business give it an edge over other ai companies. The agency also said it Wants Details about Microsoft’s Data Center Capacity Constrants to Better Understand the costs behind cloud-comuting services. Theose details will help the agency determine where to brings a case.
Since receiving the ftc demand, microsoft may have sought to narrow the scope of the information it’s being asked to turn over – a Typical Move by Companies Being Probed by the agency. Such Wide-Ranging Antitrust Investigations can take Years and Do’s’T Always Result in the Agency Bringing a case.
“We are working cooperatively with the agency,” said Alex Haurek, A Microsoft Spokesman. The Ftc Didn’t Respond to a request for comment.
The evolution of the probe now rests in the hands of ferguson and his new head of competition, daniel guarnera, who joined the agency from the justice department, where he worked on ANTITRUST CASES TARGETING TARGETING Inc.’s Google and Apple Inc.
In his First public remarks Since taking the Chair position in Late February, Ferguson Said Investigating The Tech Sector is his highest priority. Early movies include seeking information on censorship by tech companies.
Ferguson also backed a filing in January in support of billionaire elon musk, who Sued to derail openai’s plans to restructure as a more conventional for-protrofit business.
The Civil Investigative Demand was crafted by Ftc Staff and Personally Signed off on by Former Chair Lina Khan after the agency Spent More than a year Conducting informal interview Business partners, bloomberg previously reported.
Ferguson’s ftc has inherited Several Other Cases Against Big Tech Companies from Khan, Including Lawsuits Against Meta Platforms Inc. And amazon.com Inc. On Wednsday, The Agency Asked A Judge to Delay a Trial Challing Amazon’s prime subscription practices, Citing Resource Constrants at the Agency. The FTC Quickly Walked Back Comments that Resource Constraints at the Agency will hamper its ability to start a trial in September.
A Separate Antitrust Case Against Amazon’s Retail Business is set to go to go to Trial in October 2026.
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