14 DAY TRIAL // Chinese authorities raided several Microsoft offices a couple of days ago, and although no reasons have been provided at first, more information is now emerging on what seems to be a new anti-trust case that could target the Redmond-based tech giant.
Approximately 100 Chinese investigators paid an unexpected visit to Microsoft offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Guangzhou, seizing computers, documents, and email information that mostly contain conversations between the company’s employees. Copies of a number of documents, including contracts and financial statements, have also been made, WSJ writes.
Although it’s still unclear why exactly the government has decided to raid Microsoft’s offices, a company spokesperson has said in a statement that Redmond’s business does not violate any local law, which clearly makes people think about a new anti-trust case that would involve the software giant.
“[Microsoft] complies with the laws and regulations of every market in which we operate around the world and we have industry leading monitoring and enforcement mechanisms in place to ensure this. Our business practices in China are designed to be compliant with Chinese law,” a company spokesperson was quoted as saying by Bloomberg.
In a statement published on the Chinese version of its website, China’s State Administration for Industry and Commerce explains that these raids are part of an investigation following a number of complaints received in the last 12 months and targeting the security of Microsoft’s products.
This wouldn’t be the first time when Chinese authorities are closely looking at the security offered by Microsoft’s software, as several local government bodies have accused the software giant of bundling backdoors in its Windows operating system in order to spy on the government and steal state secrets.
Back in May, Chinese authorities decided to ban Windows 8 on government computers, with people close to the matter saying that security concerns over a possible backdoor hidden in the source code were the main reason for this decision.
Ever since, Microsoft said with several occasions that it’s ready to work with the Chinese government on addressing these claims, but until now, no agreement has been reached. Microsoft said that instead of Windows 8, the company is offering the Chinese government the older Windows 7, which is similar in terms of performance and security to its successor.
Microsoft is obviously avoiding to provide too many details on this new investigation, but it’s pretty clear that the company hopes that it’s all for the best and everything will end without a new fine.