Overview
- The Competition and Markets Authority has launched a formal investigation into Microsoft’s changes to Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans to see if renewal messages misled users and caused them to pay more.
- The CMA said existing subscribers were given Copilot for the remainder of their term from January 2025 and were then automatically migrated at renewal to a new Copilot‑inclusive plan unless they chose another option or cancelled.
- Microsoft removed non‑Copilot Personal and Family plans for new customers and offered a time‑limited 'Classic' option to existing users while the new AI plan cost about £25 a year more for annual subscriptions.
- Microsoft told the regulator it will cooperate and said consumer trust and transparency are priorities, while the CMA stressed the probe is at an early stage and has not found any breach of law.
- The UK action, announced on July 29, 2026, joins earlier scrutiny in Australia and Italy and could lead to consumer redress or fines up to 10 percent of global turnover if the CMA finds consumer protection laws were broken.