Microsoft Teams will reportedly sit at center of EU antitrust probe based on Slack complaint
Slack accused Microsoft of using Office to gain Teams users. Now Microsoft will face an antitrust probe over the situation.
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What you need to know
Microsoft will face an antitrust probe by the European Union, according to a report byPOLITICO. The investigation will focus on acomplaint made by Slack in 2020that alleges Microsoft used its dominant Office suite of applications to gain an advantage for Microsoft Teams. POLITICO cited four people familiar with the situation in its report.
Slack and Microsoft have had a rocky relationship over the past few years. The rivalry ramped up during the global pandemic that saw Teams gain a substantial market share in the communication space. In April 2020, Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield said that Teams was not a competitor to Slack (viaCNBC). Oddly, anSEC filingmade by Slack during the same period claimed the exact opposite (viaThe Verge).
Would Slack have even existed if it was not for the free access they had on top of, say, the Windows platform?
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella clapped back against Slackand asked, “would Slack have even existed if it was not for the free access they had on top of, say, the Windows platform?”
Now, around two years after Slack’s complaint, the European Union will reportedly open an antitrust probe into the situation. POLITICO reports that the European Commission will “escalate the probe quickly” and prepare a statement of objections.
Microsoft’s rivals and customers have been sent requests for more information, according to the report.
The “assessment of the complaint is ongoing,” said a European Commission spokesperson to POLITICO. Microsoft has not responded with a comment at the time of publication.
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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
