A US regulator launches a comprehensive antitrust investigation targeting Microsoft

Microsoft (MSFT.O) is the latest Big Tech company to come under regulatory scrutiny after the U.S. Federal Trade Commission launched a comprehensive antitrust investigation against the company, according to a source familiar with the situation on Wednesday.According to the source, the FTC would be investigating its cloud computing operations, software licensing, and cybersecurity and AI product practices.

MICROSOFT Ahead of her anticipated departure in January and the anticipation that incoming President Donald Trump would name a fellow Republican with a more lenient stance toward business, Chair Lina Khan approved the FTC's antitrust investigation. According to sources earlier this month, Microsoft's antitrust probe would also examine claims that the software behemoth is abusing its market dominance in productivity software by enforcing harsh licensing conditions to stop users from transferring their data from its Azure cloud service to rival platforms.Alphabet A new tab opens in Alphabet's (GOOGL.O). Prosecutors contend that Google should sell its Chrome browser, share data and search results, and potentially even sell Android in the Google search case, where a federal judge found that the company had violated the law by illegally controlling internet search. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta will convene a two-week trial to determine whether remedies are appropriate in this case after giving Google an opportunity to suggest its own remedies in December.