EU antitrust agency is examining Microsoft's security software practices, The Information reports – February 27, 2024 at 10:13 PM EDT

European Union regulators are investigating whether Microsoft is preventing its customers from purchasing security software from its competitors, The Information reported Tuesday, citing a document the European Union sent to at least one competitor in January.

Companies have complained over the years about the tech giant's practice of bundling its services and its growing cloud business.

Regulators at the European Commission, which acts as the EU's competition watchdog, are investigating Microsoft's Entra ID program, formerly known as Azure Active Directory, according to the report.

The report continued that this program allows companies to control which employees can log in to their cloud applications.

Alphabet Inc's Google Cloud on Monday intensified its criticism of Microsoft's cloud computing practices, alleging that the rival is seeking a monopoly that would hurt the development of new technologies such as generative artificial intelligence.

Microsoft and the European Commission did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. (Reporting by Harshita Mary Varghese; Editing by Maju Samuel)