Japan’s FTC Raids Microsoft Offices Amid Global Antitrust Scrutiny
Japan's Fair Trade Commission conducted a surprise raid on Microsoft's local offices, escalating global antitrust concerns. Regulators suspect the tech giant imposed restrictive cloud licensing terms that disadvantage competitors. The investigation mirrors similar actions in the UK, where Microsoft faces a £2.1 billion lawsuit over alleged anti-competitive practices in cloud computing.
Microsoft Japan confirmed full cooperation with authorities as the probe expands internationally. The company's licensing structure has drawn criticism for allegedly degrading performance of Windows Server on rival platforms like AWS and Google Cloud. This marks Microsoft's first antitrust raid in Japan, though the company faces parallel challenges across multiple jurisdictions.