UK regulator proposes strategic market status designation for Microsoft

Neowin reports the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority has proposed designating Microsoft with strategic market status under digital competition rules. The CMA says integration and bundling across Windows, Windows Server, productivity software and Defender may make it harder for businesses and public-sector organizations to switch providers; control of key APIs can also limit alternatives. The investigation does not find or assume wrongdoing. Comments on the proposal are open until November 13, 2026.