Originally published June 13, 2025

For my blog, dedicated to unveiling propaganda and championing truth, Elon Musk’s evolving relationship with Microsoft serves as a powerful case study in resisting corporate narratives that prioritize control over user autonomy. From his early reliance on Microsoft technologies at Zip2 to his outspoken criticism of their monopolistic practices, data exploitation, and threats to user freedom, Musk’s journey reflects a growing awareness of how tech giants like Microsoft manipulate markets and obscure truth. This article explores Musk’s shift from collaborator to critic, contextualizes Microsoft’s controversial practices, and draws lessons for combating propaganda in the tech industry.

Early Involvement with Microsoft

In the mid-1990s, Elon Musk’s first company, Zip2, developed online city guides using Microsoft’s Windows NT Server for its backend infrastructure, a common choice for businesses at the time. Musk, noted as a “big Windows fan” during this period, leveraged Microsoft’s dominance in enterprise software and developer tools to scale Zip2’s operations. This early reliance suggests Musk initially viewed Microsoft as a practical partner for his ventures, aligning with their ecosystem to achieve rapid growth in the nascent internet era.

However, as Musk’s ambitions expanded with X.com (later PayPal), SpaceX, and Tesla, his perspective shifted. The tech landscape evolved, and Microsoft’s monopolistic tendencies and control over user ecosystems began to clash with Musk’s preference for open systems and user autonomy, setting the stage for his critique of their propaganda-driven practices.

Growing Distrust of Microsoft’s Propaganda

Musk’s distrust of Microsoft became evident in the 2010s and 2020s, driven by specific incidents and broader concerns about their business practices, which often prioritize profit and control over transparency and user freedom. Below are key moments that highlight Microsoft’s role in perpetuating tech propaganda:

1. Twitter Data Dispute (2023)

In April 2023, Musk threatened to sue Microsoft, accusing them of illegally using Twitter data to train AI models after Twitter began charging for API access. Microsoft’s decision to drop Twitter from an advertising service prompted this clash, revealing their exploitation of proprietary data without permission. This incident exposed Microsoft’s role in propagating a narrative of unchecked data use, a tactic my blog seeks to dismantle by advocating for transparency in tech practices.

2. Microsoft Outage and Public Criticism (2024)

In July 2024, a global Microsoft IT outage disrupted critical services like airports and hospitals, prompting Musk to mock Microsoft on X, calling it the “biggest IT fail ever.” This incident underscored Microsoft’s overreliance on centralized systems and their vulnerability, challenging the narrative of their infallible dominance. Musk’s public trolling highlighted how Microsoft’s propaganda of reliability obscures systemic flaws, a theme central to my blog’s mission.

3. Windows and User Autonomy Concerns (2024–2025)

In February 2024, Musk expressed frustration on X about a new PC requiring a Microsoft account, stating, “Just bought a new PC laptop and it won’t let me use it unless I create a Microsoft account, which also means giving their AI access to my computer! This is messed up.” He noted Microsoft’s ability to “effectively shut off your computer,” exposing their ecosystem as a tool for control rather than empowerment. This aligns with my blog’s critique of corporate propaganda that masks user exploitation under the guise of convenience.

4. Legal and Antitrust Actions (2024–2025)

In November 2024, Musk expanded a lawsuit against OpenAI to include Microsoft, their largest backer, alleging anticompetitive behavior in the generative AI market. This legal action reflected Musk’s belief that Microsoft uses its market power to sideline competitors, echoing their historical monopolistic tactics. Yet, in a pragmatic move, Musk announced at Microsoft’s 2025 developer conference that their cloud platform would host his Grok AI chatbot, highlighting a contentious relationship where he navigates their dominance while challenging their propaganda of market fairness.

Microsoft’s Propaganda Tactics

Microsoft’s history is marked by practices that fuel distrust and align with propaganda techniques designed to maintain control and obscure truth:

1. Embrace, Extend, Extinguish (EEE)

Microsoft’s EEE strategy, coined in the 1990s, involves adopting open standards, extending them with proprietary features, and using market dominance to extinguish competitors. Examples include:

• Internet Explorer and Netscape (1990s): Microsoft embraced web standards, extended Internet Explorer with proprietary features, and bundled it with Windows, killing Netscape Navigator. This led to the 1998 U.S. antitrust case, which found Microsoft guilty of monopolistic practices.
• Java and Sun Microsystems (1990s): Microsoft created a Windows-specific Java version (J++), undermining Sun’s cross-platform vision, forcing a lawsuit.
• Linux and Open Source (2000s): Microsoft embraced open-source communities but extended proprietary integrations (e.g., Azure-specific Linux tools), locking users into their ecosystem—a subtler form of EEE that my blog critiques as manipulative.

2. Security and Malware Issues

In the 2000s, Windows faced criticism for security flaws exploited by malware, with critics arguing Microsoft prioritized market share over robustness. These vulnerabilities damaged trust, as users faced frequent issues in Windows XP and earlier systems, a narrative of reliability that my blog challenges.

3. Vendor and Consumer Lock-In

Microsoft’s proprietary formats (e.g., Office file formats) and restrictive licensing create lock-in, making it costly to switch to alternatives like Linux. This practice, antithetical to innovation, is a form of propaganda that presents Microsoft’s ecosystem as the only viable option.

4. Deceptive Advertising Practices

In 2014, Microsoft paid influencers for Xbox One endorsements without requiring disclosure, violating FTC guidelines. After backlash, they added disclosures, but this incident highlighted their willingness to manipulate public perception, a tactic my blog seeks to expose.

5. Employee and Social Controversies

In 2024–2025, Microsoft faced backlash for firing employees protesting its involvement in Israel’s use of Azure technology during the Gaza war. These incidents underscored perceptions of Microsoft prioritizing profits over ethics, a hypocrisy my blog critiques as part of corporate propaganda.

Lessons for Combating Tech Propaganda

Musk’s criticisms and Microsoft’s history offer valuable lessons for my blog’s mission to combat propaganda and empower users:

• Vigilance Against Monopolies: Microsoft’s EEE strategy and antitrust violations show how dominance stifles innovation. Support open standards and diverse ecosystems to counter their control.
• Privacy Awareness: Musk’s concerns about Windows and AI highlight the need to scrutinize data use. Demand transparency and opt for privacy-focused alternatives.
• Skepticism of Corporate Ethics: Microsoft’s advertising scandals and employee controversies reveal profit-driven motives. Hold companies accountable through regulation and consumer pressure.
• Historical Context Matters: Understanding Microsoft’s EEE history explains their current AI and cloud strategies. Question whether their “embraces” are genuine or strategic.
• Balancing Convenience and Control: Microsoft’s ecosystem offers convenience but compromises autonomy. Explore open-source or decentralized alternatives, as Musk advocates.

Conclusion

Elon Musk’s journey from leveraging Microsoft technologies at Zip2 to criticizing their monopolistic practices reflects a growing awareness of how tech giants use propaganda to maintain control. His 2023–2025 actions—threatening lawsuits, mocking outages, and decrying Windows’ account requirements—expose Microsoft’s data exploitation, unreliable systems, and threats to user autonomy. Microsoft’s history of EEE, security lapses, and ethical missteps provides context for Musk’s stance and fuels my blog’s mission to challenge corporate narratives. By advocating for open systems, privacy, and accountability, we can resist the propaganda of tech giants and foster a digital ecosystem that prioritizes truth and user freedom.