Microsoft attacks Google for cloud services

According to Microsoft, Google should conduct a “shadow campaign” against the software company. Allegedly, the Internet giant wants to undermine its competitor’s cloud activities. The dispute between the tech giants is reaching a new level of escalation.

Microsoft makes serious allegations against Google

As Microsoft’s deputy general counsel Rima Alaily put it in a strikingly aggressive manner Blog entry explained, Google believes their company is conducting a series of “shadow campaigns” against the Redmond-based company’s cloud businesses. Allegedly, Google wants to sabotage Microsoft’s activities in this way.

Alaily also said that Google would launch another alleged corporate group this week to spread false stories about Microsoft. The aim is to deceive the competition authorities, legislators and the public, the Microsoft lawyer continued. Google is trying hard to cover up its involvement, financing and control over the newly founded organization.

Google is said to be hiding behind a new lobby group

To further its goals, Google has “recruited” a number of smaller European cloud service providers to serve as the “face” of the organization. As soon as the new group is launched publicly, Google will probably only present itself as one of the members “at the back” and not as the “leader”.

To ensure that Google’s activities do not become public, the competitor has hired a communications and lobbying agency in Europe, according to Alaily. They are now working on setting up the new lobby group. According to Microsoft’s lawyer, they learned about the new plans from a third-party company because it was also invited to participate in the new group but did not want to join.

Microsoft has long been the focus of EU competition watchdogs because, in the opinion of competitors, the company is exploiting a dominant market position by bundling its cloud services with products such as Windows Server. Only a few months ago, as part of an agreement with the EU, a potentially high competition fine was initially averted because concessions were made.