Germany's Watchdog Increases Scrutiny of Microsoft

Germany's competition watchdog, the Bundeskartellamt, has classified Microsoft as a 'company with paramount cross-market significance for competition', enabling stricter scrutiny and potential bans on anti-competitive practices. This decision highlights Microsoft's widespread influence across various sectors, with its products deemed 'ubiquitous and indispensable' in businesses and households. Andreas Mundt, head of the watchdog, noted that Microsoft's ecosystem has become increasingly interconnected, bolstered by its cloud and AI initiatives. The new classification also applies to other tech giants like Apple, Google, and Meta. Microsoft has committed to cooperating with the regulator to foster a healthy competitive environment, especially in light of previous antitrust challenges. The intensified monitoring reflects a broader trend of increased scrutiny of major tech firms in the digital marketplace.