Browsing: Tech

A biotech startup from Estonia named ÄIO has developed a novel process that converts agricultural waste like sawdust into edible…

F-Droid is publicly pushing back against Google’s upcoming changes that would require developers to register and verify their identities before…

Duolingo has announced it will “never” open a San Francisco office, underscoring its commitment to its Pittsburgh headquarters and rejecting…

Over the weekend of September 20–22, 2025, Europe’s cybersecurity agency ENISA confirmed that a ransomware attack against Collins Aerospace, a…

Facebook (now Meta) has started rolling out payments from a $725 million class-action settlement that resolves lawsuits tied to the…

A recent report by The Verge spotlights how antisemitic parody T-shirts—transforming the iconic “Jaws” movie poster into “Jews,” complete with…

Microsoft has reached an agreement with the European Commission to address competition concerns over bundling its Teams collaboration tool with the Office/Microsoft 365 suite, allowing it to avoid a major antitrust penalty. EU regulators, following complaints from Slack (now owned by Salesforce) and German firm alfaview, found that Microsoft’s practice of tying Teams to its productivity apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) gave Teams an unfair competitive advantage. As remedial commitments, Microsoft will offer versions of Office 365 and Microsoft 365 without Teams at discounted prices, improve interoperability with rival tools, and permit customers to export their Teams data. The Commission accepted these binding commitments, many stretching over seven to ten years, finding them sufficient to forestall a fine.
Sources:
Reuters
,
The Verge
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AP News
Key Takeaways
– Microsoft must now offer Microsoft 365/Office 365 plans without Teams at a reduced cost, giving customers more choice.
– The commitments include long-term requirements (7–10 years) for interoperability, data portability, and pricing adjustments to ensure competition isn’t stifled.
– By agreeing to these measures instead of fighting the case, Microsoft avoids a potentially large EU antitrust fine, while the EU saves time and resources yet still achieves regulatory goals.
In-Depth
Europe is stepping up its oversight of Big Tech again, this time by pressing Microsoft to unbundle Teams from its Office/Microsoft 365 productivity suites—an arrangement the European Commission found was giving Microsoft an unfair competitive advantage. This is a significant moment in tech regulation: rather than issue a heavy fine, Brussels accepted a set of binding commitments from Microsoft to change how it sells, integrates, and licenses these tools.
The trouble started with complaints from rivals like Slack and alfaview, who argued Microsoft was improperly tying Teams to Office products in a way that locked customers in and made it hard for competitors to compete. Microsoft had already previously made some changes—such as partially unbundling in Europe—but those measures were judged by regulators as insufficient.
Under the terms of the settlement, Microsoft will now offer versions of its Microsoft 365 and Office 365 packages without Teams at a lower price, globally—not just in the EU. The company will also improve interoperability, allowing competing tools to integrate more effectively, and will permit export of Teams data so companies can more easily switch platforms if they want. The pricing differences will be locked in for a period (seven years for many obligations; some components like data portability and interoperability will last up to ten years).
This outcome gives Microsoft a clear path to avoid a steep penalty, while meeting the EU’s concern that bundling software in this way can suppress competition. For consumers and business users, it means more flexibility, potentially lower costs if they don’t need Teams, and easier choice among collaboration tools. For rivals, it means a fairer shot in the market. From a regulatory standpoint, this settlement underscores the EU’s strategy of enforcement through negotiated commitments—ideally getting compliance without lengthy litigation and hefty fines.
Overall, Microsoft’s agreement illustrates a balance: regulators getting meaningful change, users getting more options, and the company avoiding extreme penalties—so long as the promises hold up. Whether this sets a precedent for future cases will be worth watching.

Facebook is officially bringing back job postings across the U.S., reviving a feature it first launched in 2017 and later…

Electronic Arts is reportedly on the brink of a historic shift: in advanced negotiations to be acquired for around USD…

In a landmark ruling on September 5, 2025, the European Commission fined Google €2.95 billion (about $3.5 billion) for abusing its dominant position in the digital advertising technology sector, finding that it unfairly favored its own ad exchange platforms—AdX and DFP—over those of rivals. The EU demanded that Google cease its self-preferencing practices and submit remedies within 60 days, with a potential requirement to divest parts of its ad-tech business if solutions prove inadequate. The decision marks Google’s fourth major antitrust hit in Europe yet again elevates scrutiny on its market practices as similar probes unfold in the U.S., the U.K., and Canada.
Sources:
The Verge
,
Wall Street Journal
,
AP News
Key Takeaways
– Scale of Regulation: The €2.95 billion sanction underscores the EU’s willingness to levy hefty fines to curb Big Tech over anti-competitive conduct.
– Structural Remedy Pressure: Beyond penalties, the EU is pushing for tangible changes—Google must propose remedies in 60 days, potentially including divestiture.
– Global Antitrust Wave: The case adds to mounting scrutiny on Google’s ad-tech practices globally, with parallel investigations ongoing in the U.S., U.K., and Canada.
In-Depth
On September 5, 2025, the European Commission delivered a clear and firm signal to Big Tech by imposing a €2.95 billion fine on Google, citing abusive conduct tied to its ad-tech platforms. Regulators accused Google of self-preferencing—steering business toward its own ad exchange (AdX) and ad server (DFP) systems, effectively undermining fair competition in the programmatic advertising space. This marks Google’s fourth major sanctions from Brussels in under a decade, following previous rulings on shopping, Android bundling, and search ad placement.
Critically, the EU did more than levy a financial penalty. The Commission gave Google a 60-day window to propose structural remedies—possibly including divestiture if their plan fails to address conflicts of interest. This reflects a broader regulatory posture: penalties alone often aren’t enough to change embedded business behavior; regulators want durable fixes. The decision comes amid a wave of antitrust momentum: U.S. authorities are pursuing their own ad-tech case, while regulators in the U.K. and Canada have launched similar probes. Google, for its part, argued that the decision is wrong and promised to appeal, maintaining that its services foster fair competition.
From a layman’s perspective, these dynamics raise salient questions. On one hand, antitrust enforcement plays a crucial role in maintaining market integrity and protecting competition. On the other, the escalating regulatory burden—especially cross-border—can deter American innovation or invite politicization via trade retaliation, as already seen in Washington’s sharp rebuke. The future hinges on balanced enforcement: fair, predictable rules that punish abuses without knee-jerk overreach. For now, the EU has made clear it’s not just watching—it’s actively reshaping digital economics.