Alphabet Shares Dip as Google Withdraws EU Complaint Against Microsoft Amid Broader Cloud Probe
Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) shares declined 0.79% to $317.76 after Google withdrew its European Union antitrust complaint against Microsoft. The move coincides with the European Commission launching a sweeping investigation into cloud-computing practices under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Regulators are scrutinizing whether Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS) qualify as "gatekeepers" under the DMA. Google's complaint had accused Microsoft of anti-competitive licensing practices in Azure, but the withdrawal signals a strategic pivot toward regulatory collaboration rather than confrontation.
The cloud computing sector faces mounting pressure as EU officials consider stricter interoperability requirements. This regulatory shift comes at a delicate moment for Big Tech, with authorities increasingly focused on limiting the dominance of major cloud providers.
