UK’s CMA Probes Microsoft Over Market Position In Software & Cloud

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened an investigation into Microsoft to assess its position in business software and cloud services. The probe will examine whether the company should be given strategic market status, a designation that would allow regulatory action if required.

The review will focus on products such as Word, Excel, Teams, Copilot, and Windows, and their role in shaping competition, including in AI-related services. The regulator has raised concerns about limits on competition in cloud markets linked to these offerings. The investigation is scheduled to begin in May. The CMA is also continuing its review of cloud services involving Microsoft and Amazon. Earlier actions led to commitments on data transfer fees and interoperability between platforms to support multi-provider use.

Microsoft has faced prior scrutiny over partnerships and hiring moves connected to AI development.