FTC to look at acquisitions by Microsoft, Google, and Apple to study how big tech companies work

The FTC issued orders to Microsoft, Alphabet (including Google), Amazon, Apple tree, and Facebook that require the companies to provide information about acquisitions that weren't reported to antitrust agencies nether the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. The companies volition have to share information, documents, and the purpose of the transactions from acquisitions between Jan 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022.

The FTC can conduct "wide-ranging" searches without a "specific police enforcement purpose," then these orders are not part of an investigation of a crime or wrongdoing. FTC Chairman Joe Simons explains the purpose of the studies, "This initiative will enable the Commission to accept a closer expect at acquisitions in this important sector, and likewise to evaluate whether the federal agencies are getting acceptable notice of transactions that might harm contest. This will help united states of america go along to keep tech markets open up and competitive, for the benefit of consumers."

Companies only have to give notice of transactions over a sure size. One purpose of these studies is to make up one's mind if more than companies should have to notify the FTC well-nigh more transactions. The studies will also look at how minor firms perform later on being acquired, and provide a amend understanding of large company's acquisition activity.

The FTC volition also utilize these studies to help determine if companies are making "potentially anticompetitive acquisitions of nascent or potential competitors that fall beneath HSR filing thresholds."

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An internet connection will soon be required when setting up Windows 11 Pro

Microsoft has announced that later this year, users will be required to connect to the internet and sign-in with a Microsoft Account during the out of box setup experience on Windows 11 Pro. Microsoft has already been enforcing this requirement on Windows 11 Home since launch last October, and Windows 11 Pro is at present expected to follow accommodate before long.