This move follows the FTC’s legal challenge against Microsoft’s $75 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which faced antitrust concerns around Microsoft’s cloud gaming business. While a federal court allowed the acquisition to proceed, the FTC’s appeal highlights its commitment to maintaining oversight of Big Tech’s market reach.

The Federal Trade Commission is preparing to launch an investigation into anti-competitive practices at Microsoft’s cloud computing business, as the US regulator continues to pursue Big Tech in the final weeks of Joe Biden’s presidency.

The probe would be the latest regulatory scrutiny against Big Tech from FTC Chair Lina Khan. Microsoft already faced a challenge from the FTC under Khan’s leadership targeting its acquisition of video game publisher Activision Blizzard, a $69 billion deal that was one of the largest in tech history.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is preparing to launch an investigation into anti-competitive practices at Microsoft's cloud computing business, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is preparing to launch an investigation into anti-competitive practices at Microsoft's cloud computing business, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing people with direct knowledge of the matter.

Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) cloud computing business is likely to be investigated by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for anti-competitive practices, the Financial Times reported. Shares of the tech giant rose 0.