Japan's Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has initiated an inspection of Microsoft's local subsidiary, MS Japan. This scrutiny is part of an ongoing effort to ensure compliance with Japan's competition laws. Details on why the FTC has specifically targeted MS Japan and what exactly is being assessed are not yet clear, progressing discussions revolve around antitrust regulations.

In Japan, the FTC is responsible for preventing business activities that could disrupt fair and free competition, affecting consumers and economy. Japanese citizens generally hold trust in the FTC's role in maintaining the market's integrity, and scrutiny such as this is often viewed as a standard procedure to ensure a competitive business environment.

Similarly to Japan, both the US and EU have bodies to enforce antitrust laws—FTC in the US and European Commission in the EU. They too conduct inspections and investigations into companies for suspected antitrust violations. These investigations are typically conducted in a high-profile manner, given the companies involved are often global tech giants.