Microsoft has reportedly allayed the European Commission's competition concerns that its planned $26.2 billion purchase of LinkedIn would be anti-competitive.

Three people close to the matter revealed on Wednesday that, with some tweaks, the acquisition of the professional social network would soon receive European approval, Reuter reports.

Last week, Microsoft agreed to allow LinkedIn's rivals access to its software – such as Outlook – and promised that it would give hardware manufacturers the option of installing rival professional networks on computers after the deal is done.

It has been hit with fines of over €2.2bn over the past decade due to its policy of blocking rivals from using its products.

The deal, which will represent Microsoft's largest-ever acquisition, has provoked controversy because of what it might mean for big data regulation.

After failing in its own bid for LinkedIn, software and cloud computing giant Saleforce called on regulators to closely examine the antitrust and data privacy issues surrounding Microsoft's successful bid.

Authorities in the US, Canada, Brazil and South Africa have all given Microsoft the go-ahead without demanding concessions. The European Commission will make its decision by December 6th.