Microsoft has confirmed that it is under investigation in China, as the nation’s State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) has announced that it is investigating “alleged monopoly actions”.
Microsoft said in a statement: “We aim to build products that deliver the features, security and reliability customers expect, and we will address any concerns the government may have”.
SAIC officials have visited local Microsoft offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu and seized computers, contracts and financial statements.
State media have been critical of the company’s share of China operating system market. “Microsoft’s operating system software occupies a 95% share of the market in China, forming a de facto monopoly,” wrote the National Business Daily on Tuesday.
The investigation is another setback for Microsoft in China, following a government ban in May on the use of the Windows 8 operating system, initiated after alleged security concerns.