Google has claimed that Microsoft's actions in the cloud services market are anti-competitive and pose a cyber threat to US national security.



In a complaint filed with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Google's legal team provided evidence that Microsoft creates obstacles for customers who use products that are not part of the Azure cloud infrastructure. Google believes such control by Microsoft endangers US national security by making it more susceptible to cyber attacks via Microsoft products. Recent cyber attacks that utilized Microsoft products were cited as an example.

According to Google, companies like Microsoft and Oracle are forcing customers to switch to a monolithic cloud model with overly complex agreements. This not only limits customer choice but also increases costs and undermines digital ecosystems worldwide. Oracle was also accused of uncompetitive practices.

The Coalition for Fair Software Licensing (CFSL) supported Google's claims and confirmed that Microsoft restricts customer choice by using its market dominance and restrictive licensing conditions to bind customers to its ecosystem and Azure services. CFSL further claimed that Microsoft bundles its products into one set of services while limiting the integration of competing services and installing its products by default. Microsoft has yet to respond to these accusations.

Google's complaint against Microsoft over cloud practices is related to the competition in the cloud computing market. Google alleges that Microsoft engages in anti-competitive behavior by restricting interoperability between their respective cloud platforms, making it difficult for customers to migrate from Microsoft's cloud services to Google's. This complaint was filed with the European Commission, and Google argues that Microsoft's practices hinder customer choice and stifle innovation in the industry. The outcome of this complaint is yet to be determined, and it remains an ongoing legal dispute between the two technology giants.

Google's complaint specifically highlights Microsoft's alleged refusal to allow interoperability between their cloud platforms. Interoperability refers to the ability of different systems or software to work together and exchange information seamlessly. Google claims that Microsoft's practices make it challenging for customers who want to switch from Microsoft's cloud services, such as Azure, to Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

By intentionally limiting interoperability, Google argues that Microsoft is hindering competition in the cloud computing market. They claim that this behavior restricts customer choice and stifles innovation. The European Commission is investigating these allegations to determine whether Microsoft's actions violate antitrust regulations.

It's important to note that Microsoft has denied these allegations and defended its practices. They argue that they have made significant investments to ensure interoperability and provide customers with a seamless experience within their own ecosystem.

The outcome of this complaint is yet to be determined and will depend on the findings of the European Commission's investigation. This case highlights the intense competition and ongoing disputes among major players in the cloud computing industry.