WATCH THE VIDEO HERE France’s Autorité de la Concurrence has opened an antitrust investigation into Microsoft, examining concerns that the company may be degrading the quality of search results for smaller rivals who rely on its Bing search technology for their own products. The investigation seeks to determine whether Microsoft’s business practices in search-engine syndication are anti-competitive, potentially disadvantaging smaller players who pay to use Bing’s infrastructure. While Microsoft is not a dominant force in the global search engine market, it is a key player in search syndication, a business model where smaller search providers license Bing’s technology to deliver search results and ads. A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the company’s cooperation in the ongoing investigation “We are fully cooperating with the Autorite’s investigation,” referring to the Autorité de la Concurrence, France’s competition watchdog. This allows Microsoft to extend its influence beyond direct search users, as various search platforms integrate Bing’s backend systems instead of building their own. The investigation aims to assess whether Microsoft is using this influence to limit competition unfairly. In November 2024, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission initiated a comprehensive antitrust investigation into Microsoft, focusing on its cloud computing services, software licensing agreements, cybersecurity offerings, and artificial intelligence products. While the new leadership could impact the direction of the probe, past Republican-led agencies have pursued antitrust cases against tech giants, suggesting the investigation may continue regardless of political shifts.
France’s antitrust regulator investigates Microsoft over Bing search technology
