Microsoft-GitHub Deal Poses New ‘Data Eavesdropping’ Questions

Microsoft Corp.'s $7.5 billion bid to acquire open source code hosting service GitHub Inc. is raising questions about potential merger abuses that haven’t been tested in antitrust law.

By acquiring GitHub, a leading platform for sharing and conferring on software code, critics say Microsoft could monitor trends in software development to launch rival products and preclude competition. Millions of software developers collaborate on GitHub, including those at companies such as Microsoft and Alphabet Inc.'s Google.

Microsoft said the acquisition will empower developers and accelerate GitHub’s growth, as well as advance Microsoft services. The deal must be reviewed by either the ...