Antitrust Archive

Kamala Harris hasn’t said a lot about tech policy, but here’s what we know

This is what we’ve pieced together about her views on AI, privacy, antitrust and more.

Justine Calma, Kylie Robison and 2 moreJul 24, 2024

Richard LawlerJul 19, 2024

Microsoft insists Game Pass isn’t ‘degraded,’ as the FTC claims.

The FTC called Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass price hike “exactly the sort of consumer harm” it had predicted ahead of the company’s Activision-Blizzard buy.

Microsoft’s response (PDF) claims that with included multiplayer and the upcoming day-and-date release of Call of Duty, the offering isn’t degraded at all.

It is wrong to call this a “degraded” version of the discontinued Game Pass for Console offering. That discontinued product did not offer multiplayer functionality, which had to be purchased separately for an additional $9.99/month. While Game Pass Ultimate’s price will increase, the service will offer more value through many new games available “day-and-date.” Among them is the upcoming release of Call of Duty, which has never before been available on a subscription day-and-date.

Screenshot: Re: Federal Trade Commission v. Microsoft Corp. No. 23-15992 (PDF)

Lauren FeinerJul 16, 2024

The FTC is looking into Amazon’s deal with AI startup Adept.

The agency wants more information about Amazon’s maneuver to hire most of the Adept team and license its technology. Adept said its plans to build “useful general intelligence and an enterprise agent product” would have required “significant attention on fundraising.” The informal inquiry might not lead to an investigation or enforcement, but enforcers are keeping close watch of tech giants and AI.

Exclusive: FTC seeking details on Amazon deal with AI startup Adept, source says

[Reuters]