Italy's competition authority launched an antitrust investigation into Microsoft and Microsoft Ireland Operations over alleged unfair commercial practices involving its AI pricing transparency, as reported by Yahoo Finance. The regulator stated that the tech company may have failed to clearly inform consumers about price increases for Microsoft 365 following the integration of its generative AI tools, Copilot and Designer. The investigation adds to mounting European regulatory scrutiny as the company integrates AI across its core productivity software.
The probe focuses on consumer protection concerns regarding how subscription renewals were executed. According to the watchdog, customers appeared to be transitioned by default to higher-priced subscription plans without receiving adequate information to assess the financial changes before automatic renewal.
The regulator noted that this practice potentially restricted users from properly exercising their right to withdraw from the service. The next critical phase is determining whether the investigation will result in administrative fines, mandated changes to subscription protocols, or broader European Union scrutiny.
