EU antitrust regulators quiz cloud rivals on Microsoft's request for customer data
1 year, 9 months ago

EU antitrust regulators quiz cloud rivals on Microsoft's request for customer data

The Hindu  

EU antitrust regulators are asking Microsoft's rivals what kind of customer data they are required to provide to the U.S. tech giant as part of their Azure cloud contracts, six months after a trade group complained about its cloud computing practices. Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe, whose members include Amazon, alleged last November that Microsoft's new contractual terms imposed on October 1 together with other practices were harming the European cloud computing ecosystem. In a questionnaire sent to cloud providers seen by Reuters, the European Commission asked recipients for a list of contractual clauses requiring these companies to report information about their European customers to Microsoft. "The Commission has received several complaints regarding Microsoft, including in relation to its product Azure, which we are assessing based on our standard procedures," a spokesperson for the EU executive said.

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History of this topic

Microsoft to adjust Office-Teams pricing in bid to avoid EU antitrust fine, sources say
1 month ago

Microsoft to adjust Office-Teams pricing in bid to avoid EU antitrust fine, sources say

The Hindu  

Microsoft has offered to widen the price differential between its Office product sold with its chat and video app Teams and its software sold without the app in a bid to avert a possible EU antitrust fine, according to three sources. The move by the U.S. tech giant comes five years after Salesforce-owned Slack complained to the European Commission about …

Microsoft faces $1.27 billion antitrust lawsuit over cloud services in UK
3 months, 1 week ago

Microsoft faces $1.27 billion antitrust lawsuit over cloud services in UK

Live Mint  

Microsoft faces a 1 billion pound dispute in the U.K. over how it charges customers who buy cloud software services that rival its own Azure, the latest antitrust challenge to the U.S. tech giant’s approach to licensing. The lawsuit brought on behalf of multiple parties by litigation specialist firm Scott+Scott alleges that Microsoft is leveraging its dominance in must-have computer …

Microsoft antitrust probe: Software Company faces allegations of misusing power
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Microsoft antitrust probe: Software Company faces allegations of misusing power

Live Mint  

By Jody Godoy -The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has openead a broad antitrust investigation into Microsoft, including of its software licensing and cloud computing businesses, a source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. NetChoice, a lobbying group that represents online companies including Amazon and Google, which compete with Microsoft in cloud computing, criticized Microsoft's licensing policies, and its integration …

Microsoft hit with EU antitrust charge over Teams app
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Microsoft hit with EU antitrust charge over Teams app

The Hindu  

Microsoft faces a hefty antitrust fine after the European Commission on Tuesday accused it of illegally linking its chat and video app Teams with its Office product. Two decades after Microsoft's last EU fine, the EU competition watchdog's latest action was triggered by a 2020 complaint from rival workspace messaging app Slack, owned by Salesforce. The European Commission, which acts …

Microsoft breached antitrust rules by bundling Teams with office software, European Union says
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Microsoft breached antitrust rules by bundling Teams with office software, European Union says

Associated Press  

LONDON — Microsoft violated European Union antitrust rules with “possibly abusive” practices by tying its Teams messaging and videoconferencing app to its widely used business software, the bloc said. The commission, the 27-nation bloc’s top antitrust enforcer, said it suspects Microsoft might have granted Teams a “distribution advantage” by not giving customers a choice on whether to have Teams when …

European Union accuses Microsoft of breaching antitrust rules by bundling Teams with office software
8 months, 2 weeks ago

European Union accuses Microsoft of breaching antitrust rules by bundling Teams with office software

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy European Union regulators accused Microsoft …

European Union accuses Microsoft of breaching antitrust rules by bundling Teams with office software
8 months, 2 weeks ago

European Union accuses Microsoft of breaching antitrust rules by bundling Teams with office software

China Daily  

A view shows a Microsoft logo at Microsoft offices in Issy-les-Moulineaux near Paris, France, March 25, 2024. LONDON — European Union regulators accused Microsoft of “possibly abusive” practices that violate the bloc's antitrust rules by tying its Teams messaging and videoconferencing app to its widely used business software. The European Commission said it's concerned the US tech giant has been …

Apple Risks More App Store Fines as EU Antitrust Rift Widens
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Apple Risks More App Store Fines as EU Antitrust Rift Widens

Live Mint  

-- Apple Inc. risks billions of euros of new fines over its App Store rules as European Union antitrust regulators escalated a growing conflict over rules that strike at the heart of the iPhone maker’s business model. At the same time, the commission said that it had opened a fresh investigation into Apple’s new App Store fees for developers in …

EU to investigate Apple, Google, Meta under new digital law
11 months, 2 weeks ago

EU to investigate Apple, Google, Meta under new digital law

Al Jazeera  

Antitrust regulators will probe the Big Tech companies for potential breaches of the Digital Markets Act. European Union regulators have opened investigations into Apple, Alphabet’s Google and Meta, in the first cases under a sweeping digital law designed to stop Big Tech companies from cornering digital markets. The European Commission, the 27-nation bloc’s executive, said on Monday that it was …

Google pushes UK’s competition watchdog to start antitrust action against Microsoft for cloud dominance
1 year, 3 months ago

Google pushes UK’s competition watchdog to start antitrust action against Microsoft for cloud dominance

Firstpost  

Google is accusing Microsoft of indulging in unfair business practices to stifle competition in the cloud services space, and that Microsoft’s Azure has been positioned in a way that makes it almost impossible for business owners to look for economically reasonable alternatives to it Having been embroiled in a number of antitrust legislations itself, Google is now trying to get …

UK to investigate Amazon, Microsoft cloud for illegal practices, abusing market position
1 year, 5 months ago

UK to investigate Amazon, Microsoft cloud for illegal practices, abusing market position

Firstpost  

Amazon and Microsoft are the two biggest service providers when it comes to cloud computing. However the UK has reasons to believe that these two companies have been involved in illegal practices and have abused their market position to maintain their stronghold Amazon and Microsoft are under investigation by the UK’s antitrust authority, which is concerned that these US tech …

UK regulator asks for antitrust probe into Amazon, Microsoft cloud dominance
1 year, 5 months ago

UK regulator asks for antitrust probe into Amazon, Microsoft cloud dominance

The Hindu  

British media regulator Ofcom on Thursday asked the country's antitrust authority to investigate U.S. tech giants Amazon and Microsoft's dominance of the UK cloud market. Ofcom, which started looking into cloud services last year, had said in April it was particularly worried about the practices of Amazon Web Services and Microsoft because of their market positions, and it planned to …

Competition regulator to investigate £7.5bn cloud services market
1 year, 5 months ago

Competition regulator to investigate £7.5bn cloud services market

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Britain’s £7.5 billion cloud services …

EU opens antitrust investigation against Microsoft over Office and videoconferencing Teams bundling
1 year, 7 months ago

EU opens antitrust investigation against Microsoft over Office and videoconferencing Teams bundling

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The European Union announced Thursday …

Tech companies including Google gripe about unfair cloud practices
1 year, 8 months ago

Tech companies including Google gripe about unfair cloud practices

The Hindu  

Technology trade groups as well as Alphabet's Google have griped to the Federal Trade Commission about allegedly unfair business practices in the cloud, including by the industry's No. "Despite vibrant competition in the cloud industry, a few vendors use anticompetitive practices in order to entrench their position, most often by preventing customers from switching providers in search of lower costs, …

Meta fined record $1.3 billion and ordered to stop sending European user data to US
1 year, 9 months ago

Meta fined record $1.3 billion and ordered to stop sending European user data to US

Associated Press  

LONDON — The European Union slapped Meta with a record $1.3 billion privacy fine Monday and ordered it to stop transferring users’ personal information across the Atlantic by October, the latest salvo in a decadelong case sparked by U.S. cybersnooping fears. The penalty of 1.2 billion euros is the biggest since the EU’s strict data privacy regime took effect five …

European watchdog fines Meta $1.3 billion over privacy violations
1 year, 9 months ago

European watchdog fines Meta $1.3 billion over privacy violations

NPR  

European watchdog fines Meta $1.3 billion over privacy violations Enlarge this image toggle caption Jeff Chiu/AP Jeff Chiu/AP Tech giant Meta must pay a record 1.2 billion euros — nearly $1.3 billion — for breaching European Union privacy laws. Meta, which owns Facebook, had continued to transfer user data from countries in the European Union and the European Economic Area …

EU antitrust regulators seeking more info on Apple Pay
1 year, 10 months ago

EU antitrust regulators seeking more info on Apple Pay

The Hindu  

EU antitrust regulators are seeking more information on Apple's mobile payment system, the European Commission said on Wednesday, a sign that the enforcer is looking to close any loopholes and boost its case against the iPhone maker. The EU competition watchdog last year accused Apple of restricting rivals' access to its tap-and-go technology, Near-Field Communication, used for mobile wallets, making …

EU draft rules propose tougher cybersecurity labelling rules for Amazon, Google, Microsoft
1 year, 10 months ago

EU draft rules propose tougher cybersecurity labelling rules for Amazon, Google, Microsoft

The Hindu  

Amazon, Alphabet's Google, Microsoft and other non-European Union cloud service providers looking to secure an EU cybersecurity label to handle sensitive data can only do so via a joint venture with an EU-based company, according to an EU draft document seen by Reuters. The latest draft proposal from EU cybersecurity agency ENISA concerns an EU certification scheme that would vouch …

Google says Microsoft’s cloud practices are anti-competitive
1 year, 11 months ago

Google says Microsoft’s cloud practices are anti-competitive

The Hindu  

Alphabet's Google Cloud has accused Microsoft of anti-competitive cloud computing practices and criticised imminent deals with several European cloud vendors, saying these do not solve broader concerns about its licensing terms. In Google Cloud's first public comments on Microsoft and its European deals its Vice President Amit Zavery told Reuters the company has raised the issue with antitrust agencies and …

Google says Microsoft cloud practices are anti-competitive
1 year, 11 months ago

Google says Microsoft cloud practices are anti-competitive

Live Mint  

Alphabet's Google Cloud has accused Microsoft of anti-competitive cloud computing practices and criticised imminent deals with several European cloud vendors, saying these do not solve broader concerns about its licensing terms. In Google Cloud's first public comments on Microsoft and its European deals its Vice President Amit Zavery told Reuters the company has raised the issue with antitrust agencies and …

Google says Microsoft's cloud practices anti-competitive, critical of deals with rivals
1 year, 11 months ago

Google says Microsoft's cloud practices anti-competitive, critical of deals with rivals

The Hindu  

Alphabet's Google Cloud has accused Microsoft of anti-competitive cloud computing practices and criticised imminent deals with European cloud vendors, saying these do not solve broader concerns about its licensing terms. In Google Cloud's first public comments on Microsoft and its European deals its Vice President Amit Zavery told Reuters the company has raised the issue with antitrust agencies and urged …

Microsoft's EU remedies target only cloud streaming rivals
1 year, 11 months ago

Microsoft's EU remedies target only cloud streaming rivals

The Hindu  

Microsoft Corp.'s remedies to address European Union antitrust concerns over its $69 billion acquisition of Activision focus only on cloud gaming services, with no mention of rival Sony, people familiar with the matter said on Monday. The U.S. software giant has been trying to allay the Commission's concerns that the deal may reduce competition for console and personal computers, PC …

Apple should face a 6 million euro fine, says advisory group to the French privacy watchdog
2 years, 3 months ago

Apple should face a 6 million euro fine, says advisory group to the French privacy watchdog

Firstpost  

Apple has been accused of knowingly violating EU’s data privacy laws. The top adviser to the French data protection authority CNIL’s sanction body recommended on Monday that Apple should be fined 6 million Euros. In the complaint, the lobby, which represents the bulk of France’s digital entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, alleged that iPhone maker Apple’s former operating software, iOS 14, …

EU antitrust regulators ramp up Microsoft scrutiny, probe likely
2 years, 3 months ago

EU antitrust regulators ramp up Microsoft scrutiny, probe likely

The Hindu  

Microsoft is likely to face an EU antitrust investigation as regulators intensify their scrutiny into its practices in a case triggered by Salesforce.com's workspace messaging app Slack, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Last year, Slack complained to the European Commission, saying that Microsoft has unfairly integrated its workplace chat and video app Teams into its Office product. …

Microsoft faces new EU antitrust complaint on cloud computing practices
2 years, 4 months ago

Microsoft faces new EU antitrust complaint on cloud computing practices

The Hindu  

Microsoft faces a new antitrust complaint over its cloud computing practices as trade group CISPE, whose members include Amazon, took its grievance to European Union antitrust regulators on Wednesday. CISPE has alleged that Microsoft's new contractual terms imposed on Oct. 1 together with other practices are irreparably damaging the European cloud computing ecosystem. "Leveraging its dominance in productivity software, Microsoft …

EU Wants to Know if Microsoft Will Block Rivals After Activision Deal
2 years, 5 months ago

EU Wants to Know if Microsoft Will Block Rivals After Activision Deal

News 18  

BRUSSELS: EU antitrust regulators are asking games developers whether Microsoft will be incentivised to block rivals' access to "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard's best-selling games, according to an EU document seen by Reuters. Games developers, publishers and distributors were asked whether the deal would affect their bargaining power regarding the terms for selling console and PC games via Microsoft's …

Amazon, Google slam Microsoft's cloud computing changes
2 years, 6 months ago

Amazon, Google slam Microsoft's cloud computing changes

The Hindu  

The U.S. software giant on Monday announced amended licensing deals and other changes that will take effect on Oct. 1 and which they say will make it easier for cloud service providers to compete. Microsoft's move came after smaller European Union competitors took their grievances about its cloud service practices to EU antitrust regulators, which subsequently quizzed market players on …

EU likely to bolster Apple probe with new evidence, no new charges
2 years, 7 months ago

EU likely to bolster Apple probe with new evidence, no new charges

The Hindu  

EU antitrust regulators are set to beef up an investigation into Apple, triggered by Spotify, with new evidence but not new charges, in the hope of speeding up the case, people familiar with the matter said. The European Commission last year told the iPhone maker that its App Store rules, which require developers to use its own in-app payment system …

Microsoft seeks to dodge EU cloud computing probe with changes
2 years, 9 months ago

Microsoft seeks to dodge EU cloud computing probe with changes

The Hindu  

Microsoft will revise its licensing deals and make it easier for cloud service providers to compete, its president Brad Smith said on Wednesday, as the U.S. software giant sought to dodge a lengthy EU antitrust probe into its cloud computing business. The company found itself under the EU competition body’s scrutiny again after German software provider NextCloud, France’s OVHcloud, Italian …

Big Tech faces ‘major’ EU law on hate speech, disinformation
2 years, 10 months ago

Big Tech faces ‘major’ EU law on hate speech, disinformation

Associated Press  

LONDON — Taking aim at hate speech, disinformation and other harmful content online, the European Union is nearing agreement on a sweeping law that would force big tech companies to police themselves harder, make it easier for users to flag problems, and empower regulators to punish noncompliance with billions in fines. EU officials negotiated into the late hours of Friday …

EU poised to unveil rules forcing Big Tech to protect users
2 years, 10 months ago

EU poised to unveil rules forcing Big Tech to protect users

LA Times  

European Union officials want Google and other tech companies to step up efforts to curb the spread of illegal content, hate speech and disinformation. The European Union is nearing agreement on a set of new rules aimed at protecting internet users by forcing big tech companies such as Google and Facebook to step up their efforts to curb the spread …

Microsoft’s cloud business targeted by EU antitrust regulators
2 years, 11 months ago

Microsoft’s cloud business targeted by EU antitrust regulators

The Hindu  

EU antitrust regulators are quizzing Microsoft's rivals and customers about its cloud business and licensing deals, a questionnaire seen by Reuters showed, in a move that could lead to a formal investigation and renewed scrutiny of the U.S. software company. The company found itself on the EU competition enforcer's radar again after German software provider NextCloud, France's OVHcloud and two …

EU’s Vestager says no antitrust concerns yet about cloud computing
2 years, 11 months ago

EU’s Vestager says no antitrust concerns yet about cloud computing

The Hindu  

Cloud computing, in which Amazon and Microsoft are the biggest players followed by Alphabet's Google, doesn't pose competition concerns yet because of Europe's Gaia-X initiative, EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager said on Monday. The market power of the big companies has sparked unease at smaller rivals in recent years, with German software provider NextCloud, France's OVHcloud and two other companies …

U.S., EU agree new pact on data transfers, but lawsuits loom
2 years, 11 months ago

U.S., EU agree new pact on data transfers, but lawsuits loom

The Hindu  

President Joe Biden on Friday said the U.S. and EU had reached a new agreement on the transfer of personal data that would replace previous arrangements that were struck down by Europe's top court over spying concerns. The deal "underscores our shared commitment to privacy, to data protection and to the rule of law", Mr. Biden said in a joint …

EU Rules Take Aim at Illegal Data Transfer to Non-EU Governments
3 years ago

EU Rules Take Aim at Illegal Data Transfer to Non-EU Governments

News 18  

BRUSSELS: Amazon, Microsoft, other cloud services providers and data processing service providers will have to adopt safeguards to prevent non-EU governments gain illegal access to EU data, according to European Commission draft rules. This led Europe’s top court to outlaw a transatlantic data transfer pact known as the Privacy Shield which thousands of companies depended on for services ranging from …

Amazon Fined $1.3 Billion In Italian antitrust case
3 years, 3 months ago

Amazon Fined $1.3 Billion In Italian antitrust case

Live Mint  

MILAN—Italy’s antitrust regulator fined Amazon.com Inc. $1.3 billion, saying it harmed competitors by favoring third-party sellers that use the company’s logistics services, a decision that ramps up scrutiny of tech giants by antitrust regulators globally. In addition to the fine, the Italian regulator ordered Amazon to offer “fair and nondiscriminatory standards" for listings from third-party sellers, which it would monitor …

EU antitrust regulator seeks input on Microsoft’s Nuance deal
3 years, 3 months ago

EU antitrust regulator seeks input on Microsoft’s Nuance deal

The Hindu  

EU's antitrust regulator is taking a deeper look into Microsoft Corp's $16 billion deal for transcription technology company Nuance Communications Inc, asking customers and competitors to draw up a list of concerns, according to a questionnaire from last month seen by Reuters. The questionnaire asks whether Microsoft and Nuance are competitors and whether a tie-up could affect clients and rivals, …

EU tech rules should curb cloud computing providers
3 years, 4 months ago

EU tech rules should curb cloud computing providers

The Hindu  

Draft EU rules to curb the power of Amazon, Apple, Alphabet unit Google and Facebook should also tackle cloud computing services providers over potential anti-competitive practices, a study said on Tuesday. The report coincides with concerns that some EU lawmakers who are reviewing the Digital Markets Act proposed by EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager may be lenient towards cloud computing …

EXPLAINED: Why Amazon Was Fined $887M, And How EU's Data Law Keeps Tripping Up Tech Giants
3 years, 7 months ago

EXPLAINED: Why Amazon Was Fined $887M, And How EU's Data Law Keeps Tripping Up Tech Giants

News 18  

Amazon has revealed that it has been handed a massive fine of close to $900 million under the European Union ’s data protection law. The penalty on Amazon has been imposed by Luxembourg’s National Commission for Data Protection, reportedly in a case brought before it in 2018 by French privacy rights group La Quadrature du Net, which alleged that the …

EU regulators fine Amazon $886 million
3 years, 7 months ago

EU regulators fine Amazon $886 million

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — European regulators have fined Amazon 746 million euros for data protection violations. Amazon said in a regulatory filing on Friday that the Luxembourg National Commission for Data Protection issued a decision against the company earlier this month, claiming that its processing of personal data did not comply with the European Union general data protection regulation. In November …

EU bodies' use of Amazon, Microsoft cloud services faces privacy probes
3 years, 9 months ago

EU bodies' use of Amazon, Microsoft cloud services faces privacy probes

The Hindu  

The European Commission and European Parliament's use of cloud computing services provided by Amazon and Microsoft has prompted two EU privacy investigations over concerns about the transfer of personal data to the United States. In response, Europe's highest court last year rejected a transatlantic data transfer deal, known as the Privacy Shield, following a long-running dispute between Facebook and Austrian …

Microsoft pledges to store European cloud data in EU amid unease over reach of US legislation on personal data
3 years, 10 months ago

Microsoft pledges to store European cloud data in EU amid unease over reach of US legislation on personal data

Firstpost  

Microsoft’s European clients have long been concerned over the legal status of data they store with US companies in the cloud. US tech giant Microsoft pledged Thursday to process and store all European cloud-based client data in the European Union amid unease in the region over the reach of US legislation on personal data collection. Microsoft’s European clients have long …

Microsoft to allow EU customers to process, store data in the region
3 years, 10 months ago

Microsoft to allow EU customers to process, store data in the region

The Hindu  

Microsoft Corp will allow commercial and public sector customers in the European Union to process and store all of their data in the region, a growing demand from some clients. Microsoft will consult with customers and regulators about this plan in the coming months, including adjustments that are needed in unique circumstances like cybersecurity, its President Brad Smith said in …

Microsoft pledges to let EU users keep data inside bloc
3 years, 10 months ago

Microsoft pledges to let EU users keep data inside bloc

Associated Press  

LONDON — Microsoft is pledging to let business and public sector customers in the European Union keep cloud computing data inside the 27-nation bloc to avert concerns about U.S. government access to sensitive information. Microsoft “will go beyond our existing data storage commitments and enable you to process and store all your data in the EU,” said Brad Smith, the …

EU move vs Amazon is latest in string of tech crackdowns
4 years, 4 months ago

EU move vs Amazon is latest in string of tech crackdowns

Associated Press  

LONDON — The European Union’s move to charge Amazon over alleged antitrust behavior is the bloc’s latest crackdown on U.S. tech giants. ___ APPLE June 2020: EU Commission opens two investigations into Apple’s mobile app store and payment platform over concerns its practices distort competition by limiting choice and innovation and keeping prices high. ___ GOOGLE 2020: The EU commission …

EU files antitrust charges against Amazon over use of data
4 years, 4 months ago

EU files antitrust charges against Amazon over use of data

Associated Press  

LONDON — European Union regulators filed antitrust charges Tuesday against Amazon, accusing the e-commerce giant of using its access to data from companies that sell products on its platform to gain an unfair advantage over them. The EU’s executive Commission also opened a second investigation Tuesday into whether Amazon favors product offers and merchants that use its own logistics and …

EU charges Amazon with anti-competitive action, opens second probe
4 years, 4 months ago

EU charges Amazon with anti-competitive action, opens second probe

The Hindu  

EU regulators charged Amazon on Tuesday with distorting competition in online retail and opened a second investigation into its business practices, as antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager takes aim at another U.S. technology giant. The European Commission has been investigating Amazon's dual role - as a marketplace for merchants and also a rival seller - since July last year, triggered by …

Big Tech crackdown: EU files antitrust charges against Amazon
4 years, 4 months ago

Big Tech crackdown: EU files antitrust charges against Amazon

Al Jazeera  

EU antitrust enforcers on Tuesday accused Amazon of using data to gain an unfair advantage over merchants using the e-commerce giant’s platform. European Union regulators have filed antitrust charges against Amazon, accusing the e-commerce giant of using data to gain an unfair advantage over merchants using its platform. The commission said it takes issue with Amazon’s systematic use of non-public …

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