FTC Widens Microsoft Antitrust Probe to Cloud Licensing and Copilot · Chronopin

FTC Widens Microsoft Antitrust Probe to Cloud Licensing and Copilot · Chronopin

Bloomberg reported on 13 February 2026 that the FTC had issued civil investigative demands, effectively civil subpoenas, in recent weeks to companies competing with Microsoft in business software and cloud computing; at least half a dozen companies received them^[1]
The agency is seeking evidence that Microsoft makes it harder to use Windows, Office and other products on rival clouds, and asking about Microsoft's bundling of AI, security and identity software into Windows and Office, in a probe of whether it illegally monopolizes enterprise computing with its cloud software and AI offerings, including Copilot^[1]
The licensing questions concern rule changes Microsoft first made in 2019, which UK regulators have also examined; the bundling questions echo the Justice Department's 1990s case over Internet Explorer^[1]
Demands seen by The Verge run past 15 pages and 15 questions and say the aim is to find whether Microsoft used unfair methods of competition in cloud, software and related services under the FTC Act; they ask rivals about bundling, pricing, barriers to entry and competing against AI products like Microsoft 365^[2]
Microsoft and the FTC declined to comment in February; in June Microsoft spokesperson Alex Haurek said the company is "cooperating fully with the FTC" and believes its practices promote competition^[1][2]
The probe began under Chair Lina Khan with a detailed information demand to Microsoft in late 2024 on its cloud, licensing, cybersecurity and AI businesses, and continues under Chairman Andrew Ferguson^[1][4]
Part of the probe has focused since 2024 on Microsoft Entra ID, the identity software formerly called Azure Active Directory, after rivals complained that Microsoft's licensing and bundling make it harder for authentication and security companies to compete^[4]
Commentators ask whether Microsoft ties Office 365 to Azure, charges exit fees to switching customers, and whether building Copilot into Windows 11 and Microsoft 365 amounts to digital tying^[3]
No decision has been made: FTC staff would have to recommend a complaint and the agency's two commissioners vote on it^[1][2]