The EU Takes On US Tech Giants: Microsoft Hit with Antitrust Charge, Apple in Hot Water

The European Union (EU) is not backing down when it comes to holding US tech giants accountable. In a recent move, European regulators have charged Microsoft with violating antitrust laws just a day after similar charges were brought against Apple.

The European Commission (EC), the EU’s antitrust authority, has accused Microsoft of illegally bundling its Teams software with other proprietary business software, including Office 365 and Microsoft 365. This tying of software applications violates EU competition law, which prohibits the abuse of dominant market positions.

Fines for such violations can reach up to 10% of a company’s worldwide annual revenue, which for Microsoft totaled $212 billion in 2023. Microsoft president Brad Smith has stated that the company has already taken steps to separate Teams from its other software products and is working to address the remaining concerns raised by the EC.

This action against Microsoft follows a similar charge brought against Apple, in which the tech giant was accused of violating the EU’s recently enacted Digital Markets Act by restricting software developers from directing users to content outside the App Store. Apple has defended its practices, asserting that they comply with the law.

These recent charges are part of the EU’s broader efforts to regulate Big Tech companies and ensure fair competition in the digital market. The EU has a history of taking a more aggressive stance on business regulation compared to the US, with past successes in blocking mergers and implementing environmental legislation.

The EU’s focus on tech regulation has only intensified in recent years, with laws like the GDPR, Digital Markets Act, and Digital Services Act aimed at curbing the dominance of tech giants like Apple, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft. The charges against Microsoft and Apple are detailed in separate legal filings that outline the EC’s evidence and justifications for its claims.

Microsoft will now have the opportunity to respond to the EC’s objections before a final decision is made. While the process does not involve a trial, companies can appeal the EC’s final determination to the European Court of Justice. This ongoing battle between the EU and US tech giants is a clear sign that regulatory scrutiny in the tech industry is only getting stronger. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.