EU DMA designation could impose interoperability, information portability and self-preferencing limits on AWS and Azure
The brand of Amazon is seen on the firm’s logistics heart in Bretigny-sur-Orge, close to Paris, France, November 28, 2025. REUTERS
European Union antitrust regulators mentioned Amazon and Microsoft’s cloud computing providers must be designated as “gatekeepers” below landmark tech guidelines, a step that will topic them to strict obligations geared toward curbing market energy.
The designation below the Digital Markets Act would impose a set of obligations and bans on the world’s two largest cloud suppliers, Amazon Net Providers and Microsoft Azure, together with limits on self-preferencing and necessities to make sure interoperability and information portability.
Thus far, EU regulators have focused core platform providers resembling search, social media and app shops to rein in Huge Tech. Extending the DMA to cloud infrastructure would mark a major enlargement right into a sector seen as important to AI.
The preliminary findings observe a seven-month-long investigation.
“Cloud providers have turn into a cornerstone of Europe’s economic system — and a prerequisite for AI — with over half of EU companies now counting on them, mixed with document funding in public cloud infrastructure,” EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen mentioned in an announcement.
“Given their central function in Europe’s digital future, these providers should function in honest, open and aggressive markets that foster belief and safe Europe’s tech sovereignty.”
Amazon mentioned the evaluation disregards the breadth of cloud providers accessible to European clients and dangers deterring European funding and innovation.
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“The EU already has complete cloud regulation by the Knowledge Act, and including one other heavy layer of overlapping regulation below the DMA undermines European competitiveness and entry to cutting-edge info expertise,” an AWS spokesperson mentioned.
Microsoft pointed to its rival Google’s rising energy.
“We stay involved that ignoring the rising energy of Google Cloud and Gemini will tilt the market in a dangerous means,” a Microsoft spokesperson mentioned.
The fee singled out AWS and Microsoft Azure’s vital turnover, larger operational capability and investments than rivals, huge and entrenched person bases, lock-in results and excessive switching prices.
The EU competitors enforcer additionally cited the two providers’ AI instruments and partnerships as a decisive think about cloud procurement.
Amazon and Microsoft can now search to counter the Fee’s preliminary findings earlier than the regulator points a remaining determination within the coming months.
