Nearly three million Australians will be given refunds after Microsoft apologized to customers who accessed artificial intelligence tools.
Microsoft Australia emailed the offer to software subscribers on Thursday and admitted the clarity was practical and the plans lacked clarity.
The apology comes 10 days after the Australian competition and ACCUMER COMMISSION (ACCTC) launched legal action against Microsoft Australia with Federal tools and its claim of cheaper plans without AI tools.
The US company could face multimillion dollar penalties if the court finds in the commission’s favor.
Microsoft Australia started sending messages to Microsoft 365 family subscribers on Thursday morning, with available plans and asking for a lack of clarity about them.
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The plans include a $16 and $18 monthly package that includes access to the AI assistant copiliot, and $11 and $14 “Classic” subscriptions that do not include the tool.
Micritoro explained that subscribers who move back to cheaper plans before the end of 2025 will receive refunds to refund payments made after 30 November 2024.
“Our relationship is based on trust and transparency and we apologize for the fall in our standards,” the email said.
In this case, the Commission agreed with Microsoft that it misled about 2.7 million subscribers to pay higher prices to keep their subscriptions in their subscriptions and was not advised of a cheap alternative.
When subscribers wanted to cancel their service they were told about a non-AI option, cair of the commission, Gina Cass-Gottlieb, said.
“We are concerned that Microsoft’s communications are denying its customers the opportunity to make informed decisions about their subscription options,” he said.
In a statementMicrosoft Australia says the company needs to do better.
“In the evening, we will be more clear about the availability of non-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai subscribers, not just those who chose to cancel their subscription,” said the statement.
“In our email to subscribers, we expressed our regret for the lack of clarity about our subscription options, shared details without AI, and offered a refund to eligible subscribers who wish to switch.”
While Customer refunds can cost millions of dollars, Microsoft could also face significant fines if the Guardian is successful in its case.
MAXIMUM For corporations guilty of anti-competitive acts include a $ 50m fine, three times the amount of the wrongdoing, or 30% of the adjusted turnover at the time of the violation.